Adjacent planning and building control digital book for scotland

December 2014

Supported by

PLANNING& BUILDING CONTROL TODAYPLANNING& BUILDING CONTROL TODAY

ADJACENT

SCOTLAND

IN THIS ISSUE05 | Communities leading on Place

Good landscape design is key toprofitable development as Noel Farrerof the Landscape Institute explains

07 | A landscape for investment

Collaboration is a key element of a BIMproject. David Philp at the UK BIM TaskGroup details how BIM can aid this aspect

18 | Mindful BIM collaboration

RETROFITTING for a sustainable future

It is hoped that more communities willengage in improving their area. Here, PASoutline how they can assist

100mm (min) Party wall cavity filled with

Supafil Party Wall

Masonry 50mm (min) cavity filled with

Supafil 34

Flexible Edge Seal Cavity Stop

Block 100mm (min)

Gypsum based boards (min density 8kg/m2)

mounted on dabs

NO PARGE COAT

• E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil party wall blown wool Robust Detail solution

• Contributes to a zero effective U-value when compiling SAP calculations

• Efficient and quick installation by approved technicians

• Dry installation process

• No product storage on site

• No parge coat required

• Fully fills the cavity

Masonry, Light weight aggregate block work, min. 100mm cavity

For full information on E-WM-28 visit Robust Details website http://www.robustdetails.com/TheHandbook/RobustDetail/E-WM-28

QUICK SUSTAINABLECLEAN COST EFFECTIVE

ROBUST DETAIL E-WM-28™

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/pb0914

Download a QR reader for free from your App Store and then scan the QR for more information.

The

all WWall ty ParThe

Blown Fill Full

SolutionBlown

The

ROBUST DETE-WM-28™

all WWall ty ParThe


Blown Fill Full

AIL ET TAILE-WM-28™


SolutionBlown

y 50mm (min) Masonrcavity filled with

Supafil 34

Block 100mm (min)

• E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil parwall blown wool Robust Detail solution

• Contributes to a zero efwhen compiling SAP calculations

, L y, Masonr

E-WM-28™

E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil parwall blown wool Robust Detail solution

fective U-value Contributes to a zero efwhen compiling SAP calculations

, Light weight aggregate block work, min. 100mm cavity

E-WM-28™

ty E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil parwall blown wool Robust Detail solution

fective U-value when compiling SAP calculations


E-WM-28™

Gypsum based boards

• ficient and quick installation by Efapproved technicians

• y installation processDr




ficient and quick installation by approved technicians

y installation process

No product storage on site

No parge coat required

Fully fills the cavity

ficient and quick installation by

100mm (min) Par


mounted on dabs

TARGE COA ATNO P PARGE COA

ty wall cavity filled with 100mm (min) Par

allty W WallSupafil Par

For full information on E-WM-28 visit Robust Details website www//http:

For full information on E-WM-28 visit Robust Details website andbook/RobuseHtdetails.com/Th.robuswww

obust k/Robu

QUICK

echnica TTechnical Suppor

TEL: 01744 766 666

AINABLESUSTCLEAN

eamt T Teamechnical Suppor

TEL: 01744 766 666

AINABLE

k

KINE2431ADV

[email protected]

k fi

-V0814VV-V0814

knaufi l [email protected]

k/ bk/pb0914

Introduction

Welcome to the 2nd Editionof Planning and BuildingControl Today Scotland.

The housing crisis is still causingmuch political wrangling with shadowhousing minister Mary Fee claimingin October that Scotland was at riskof the worst housing shortages since1945 and the housing ministerMargaret Burgess claiming the SNPgovernment had “outperformed therecord of previous Scottish adminis -trations” in delivering new housebuilding programmes.

Regardless of claim and counter-claim,the fact remains that housing is a keypriority and more affordable housingis desperately needed. In November,the Scottish government announcedthat it is providing £200m in additionalfunding to stimulate the housingindustry and safeguard constructionjobs. This increase in funding is expectedto deliver thousands of new affordablehomes. So, some good news there forthose “languishing on housing waitinglists” as Mary Fee describes them,but extra housing is only part of thesolution. Any development shouldprovide places where people want tolive and engage the community inrecognising the benefits.

PAS (formerly Planning Aid Scotland)encourages community engagementin creating positive places for peopleand they are opening this editionhighlighting how they have assisted indeveloping a vision, and importantly apractical plan of action, for two areasin Scotland. But PAS are also about

educating the young, so they alsoexplain what their role is to encouragethem in the planning system.

Local authorities and developersshould also be interested in an articlefrom Noel Farrer of the LandscapeInstitute who argues that by consideringeffective landscaping within develop -ments, not only are good placesdelivered, but they are valued andmaintained, making them sustainableas well as profitable for all.

David Philp of the UK BIM Task Groupalso makes a welcome return with anarticle outlining how BIM can helpindustry to collaborate and deliverbetter outcomes, and Steve Thompson,Chair of BIM4M2 addresses thechallenges faced by manufacturers inthe BIM process, and the requirementsof the digital product informationthat can be exchanged with supplychain partners.

This edition also turns its attention tothe subject of energy efficiency witharticles from the Energy Saving Trustdiscussing the benefits of solid wallinsulation, Richard Sharpe of ExeterUniversity warning of the dangers ofpoor ventilation, and Nick Ralph ofMIMA on how to close the performancegap. All quite timely pieces consideringwe are now in the winter months.

As ever, comments and suggestionsfor future editions are always welcome,so please get in touch with the editorialteam if you have anything to say.

Production CoordinatorNick Wilde

DesignerAndrew Bosworth

SalesGlyn Jackson

The editor does not necessarily agreewith or endorse any of the views orcontents of the articles and featureswithin this document. All articles andeditorials remain the copyright of theauthors, organisations and otherrelevant authorities by whose kindpermission they are reproduced. Allinformation has been checked and iscorrect at the time of going to press.The publisher will not be liable forany loss suffered directly or indirectlyas a result of the use of or reliance onthe information contained herein.

© Adjacent Digital Politics Ltd 2014

Adjacent Digital Politics Ltd and itssuppliers collect and process personalinformation for the purposes of cus-tomer analysis and market research.Our group/affiliate companies mayalso wish to contact you about ourproducts or services, or the productsof carefully selected third parties thatwe think you may be interested in.

Adjacent Digital Politics LtdDatum HouseElectra WayCrewe Business ParkCrewe Cheshire CW1 6ZF

Registered in England & Wales.Company Reg No. 8667479. VAT Registration No. 169 9152 64.

Lisa Carnwell

Laura Evans

Editorial Team

Contents

Dec

embe

r 20

14

Communities leading on PlaceWhen the Community Empowerment Bill has passed through the Scottish Parliament,it is hoped that more communities will engage in improving their area. Here, PAS outlinehow they can assist

A landscape for investmentGood quality landscape design is the key to long-term profitable development as Noel Farrer, President, Landscape Institute explains

Local links for the statutory Register of ArchitectsARB’s Interim Registrar and Chief Executive, Karen Holmes, explains how they areworking with local authorities to raise awareness of the statutory Register of Architects

The district energy renaissanceAs the uptake of district energy rises, more urban areas can future-proof their energysystems. However, challenges do remain as explained by Simon Woodward, Chairmanat The UK District Energy Association

Mindful BIM collaborationCollaboration is a key element in the successful execution of a BIM project and can helpto share information across teams. David Philp, Head of BIM at Mace and the UK BIMTask Group details how BIM can aid collaboration

Manufacturing for BIMAddressing the challenges faced by manufacturers in the BIM process requires that digital product information can be exchanged with supply chain partners. Steve Thompson, Chair of BIM4M2 discusses the support and advice available

NFB BIM survey reveals barriers to adoption remainThe 2014 Contractor Survey from the National Federation of Builders indicates anincrease in relation to BIM readiness and use, however a number of barriers stillremain which preclude full adoption

COBie in the UKNicholas Nisbet, Lead Technical Author of the latest BIM standard developed by BSI,and director of AEC3 UK Ltd, talks about the standard’s impact on COBie

Performance standards to rely onPaul Wilkins, Chair of the ACAI outlines what standards apply to organisationsdelivering building control and how these can help the customer

CDM2015: The art of selective interpretationAlthough reservations remain about the HSE’s proposals for CDM2015, it looks like the role of Principal Designer is here to stay. James Ritchie of The Association forProject Safety outlines what steps industry should now take

The business of fire safety partnershipsGraham Ellicott, CEO of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) sheds light on howbusinesses can now access Primary Authority Schemes for fire

0507121418242832374043

Energy saving insulationThe Energy Saving Trust examine solid wall insulation and what opportunitiesit has for UK homes along with what households should consider

Rising damp: rising allergiesRichard Sharpe, PhD Researcher at the University of Exeter Medical Schooladdresses the concerning rise of allergies caused by damp

Designing out the performance gapThe Zero Carbon Hub has recently recommended priority actions for the industry to close the ‘performance gap’. Here, Nick Ralph from MIMA welcomes the report and draws upon some of MIMA’s own work to illustrate its importance

464853

PLANNING AND DEV

ELOPM

ENT

BUILDING CONTR

OL

ENER

GY EFFICIEN

CY

| 5Planning and Development

Communities leading on PlaceWhen the Community Empowerment Bill has passed through the ScottishParliament, it is hoped that more communities will engage in improvingtheir area. Here, PAS outline how they can assist…

Over the last few months, PAS (formerly Planning Aid Scotland) has been workingwith two communities to help them develop

a vision, and importantly a practical plan of action,for their area. These projects with communities onthe Isle of Rum and in Dunblane have been initiatedand owned by the communities themselves, with PASacting as facilitator of the visioning process.

It is encouraging to see communities coming forwardwith ideas and aspirations to improve their localarea for the benefit of all and it is hoped that morecommunities will follow suit when the CommunityEmpowerment Bill has passed through the ScottishParliament. However, it is important that all sectionsof the community are engaged in this process, particularly young people.

The following is an overview of the two community-ledprojects and PAS youth engagement programmes.

Isle of RumPAS assisted the Isle of Rum Community Trust withpreparation of their Community Land Use Plan atthe Community Land Scotland conference in 2013.PAS and The Isle of Rum Community Trust (IRCT) cametogether to discuss collaborating on a community-ledland use plan for the 100 hectares of land which in2009 was transferred from the Scottish NaturalHeritage to the Trust.

One of IRCT’s key aims is to increase the island’spopulation, which is currently around 30 people. In order to do this, more houses, and the right kindof houses are needed on the island. However, thedesire of IRCT and the residents of Rum to do thingsfor themselves needs to be balanced with thenecessity of protecting the island’s unique landscape.

PAS, in collaboration with IRCT and supported byThe Highland Council, has undertaken two visits to

Children from the IMBY programme lookingthrough a viewfinder at different view-points tothink about the different elements of the builtenvironment and land use that they see

Rum to undertake landscape analysis and detailedengagement with the local community. This hasinvolved speaking to residents of the island and alsostakeholders such as Scottish Natural Heritage, aswell as on-going discussions with The HighlandCouncil. This engagement forms the basis of thedraft plan which has now been prepared and willundergo further consultation.

The Highland Council has supported the aims of theproject and believes that this kind of community-ledplan could be a model for other communities in itsarea. IRCT intends to submit the Community LandUse Plan to the West Highlands and Islands LocalDevelopment Plan with the aim that it will beadopted as supplementary guidance within theplan, thereby giving more certainty about gainingplanning permission for new houses in appropriatelocations on the island. IRCT secured funding forthis project from the Big Lottery’s Awards for Allprogramme.

Dunblane CommunityThe Dunblane Community Council and DunblaneDevelopment Trust approached PAS to help takeforward a community visioning project (based onPAS’s Charretteplus model) to focus on creating acommunity-owned vision for Dunblane town centre.The project started in November 2014 and will runthroughout the winter, culminating in a series ofpublic workshops in spring 2015.

The project will involve local groups and businesses,but importantly also young people living in Dunblane– those who will live with today’s decisions thelongest. Through a range of education programmes,PAS encourages young people to take an interest intheir local environment and think about how theycan play an active part in the decisions that aremade in their community.

The output from the project is intended to be acommunity land-use and community plan with aready to implement action plan. The project has thesupport of Stirling Council, particularly the land-useplanning and community planning teams. The projectsteering group secured funding from the ScottishGovernment’s charrette mainstreaming programme,Stirling Council and the Big Lottery’s Awards for Allprogramme.

Inclusive communitiesYoung people are often not heard within the planningsystem and within decision-making structures intheir local area. Recognising this, PAS has developedand delivered a series of educational programmesfor young people aged 8-25 called IMBY™, YEP! andYoung Placemakers. Workshop sessions have takenplace in primary and secondary schools in bothurban and rural areas across Scotland, to engageyoung people in the local decision making process ofshaping their places. PAS has been working closelywith Education Scotland to align the programmeswith Curriculum for Excellence learning outcomes.

IMBY™ ‘In My Back Yard’ helps young children understand the importance of active citizenship intheir local community and makes them consider thedifferent ways in which land can be used and theimpacts it may have on people now and in thefuture. PAS’s use of IMBY™ in Edinburgh has beenhighlighted as good practice by Education Scotland.

YEP! ‘Youth Engagement in Planning’ educatesteenagers about land use in the context of theirlocal communities. It introduces them to the roleof community councils and other civic groups whilegiving them the knowledge, skills and confidencenecessary to get more involved in local civicengagement and help make their voice heard.

The Young Placemakers programme recognises thatyoung people must be allowed to become moreengaged with the decisions which help shape Scotland’s future places. The programme gives youngpeople the opportunity to have a central role in theplanning system and to represent their local commu-nity to help build a more sustainable Scotland. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PASTel: 0131 220 [email protected]

6 | Planning and Development

Imag

e: ©

Ter

ence

O'R

ourk

e| 7Planning and Development

A landscape for investmentGood quality landscape design is the key to long-term profitabledevelopment as Noel Farrer, President, Landscape Institute explains…

We need 230,000 new homes every year tocope with predicted population growth inthe UK. That’s more homes than at any

time since the post-war building boom. Or to put itanother way: by 2050, the population is likely toreach 77 million – meaning to house that number, weneed to build for the equivalent of another 11 areasthe size of Bristol. With the government puttingmore pressure on housebuilders than ever to hit thenumbers, will it be business-as-usual or will theseschemes endure as successful, popular and valuableplaces to live? We cannot afford for them not to be.

People don’t want to live in any old housing. Theywant to live in housing that offers them a betterquality of life, one that makes them feel safe walkingto and from work and creates a sense of pride andownership. This was well understood by thosehousebuilders behind landmark developmentssuch as Munstead Wood, Letchworth, Span estates,Milton Keynes and Greenwich Millenium Village. Allof them are a combination of good-quality housingin verdant, well-designed and constructed landscapes,

because it is the so-called ‘spaces between thebuildings’ that make housing work.

Today, we have other notable examples, but whetherthey are reverential to these landmark developmentsor new typologies in themselves, they all aspire tothe same maxim: landscape thinking delivers goodplaces – and good places are valued and maintained,which makes them sustainable, as well as profitablefor all. We’ve collected together five of these recenthousing projects in a new guide – Profitable Places:Why housebuilders invest in landscape – that aims toshow public and private developers how landscapecan help them deliver their business goals.

Developed by the Landscape Institute Policy Committee Working Group on Housing, the guideoffers housebuilders five ways in which landscapeprofessionals can add value to their developments.These are:

Investment in a high-quality landscape pays divi-•dends, as customers are willing to pay more for it;

Trumpington Meadows, South Cambridgeshire. Species rich meadow

Good landscape planning helps to make the best•use of land, identifying the most sustainable sitesfor development;

Well-planned and well-designed green infrastructure•creates spaces that deliver more efficient land use;

Landscape is a cost-effective way to meet the•regulations and standards that guide sustainabledevelopment, such as Building for Life 12 – allbut one of these national standards require alandscape-led approach to achieve a green light;

Considering landscape from the outset can •ensure that new development is more acceptableto existing communities, and will speed up theplanning process.

But rather than just have our members tell house-builders how to do it, we started by putting thequestion to them. We asked senior executives atBerkeley Group, Barratt Developments, CountrysideProperties, Homes and Communities Agency, CrestNicholson, and the Greater London Authority to tellus how landscape adds value to what they do.

The guide includes comment from each of thesedevelopers, but one consistent message is that creating sustainable housing developments thatpays dividends is not just about creating energyefficient homes. As Chris Tinker, Board Director andRegeneration Chairman at Crest Nicholson says,“We have learnt that to create places where peoplewish to live, and to add value for the new community,our shareholders and wider society alike, we shouldinvest in the public realm and the natural environmentfrom the outset.”

It will come as no surprise that the most populardevelopments are frequently the greenest, leafiestones, with mature trees and well-designed streets.Moreover, leading developers obviously use this todifferentiate themselves by featuring these imagesprominently in their marketing materials. But is thismessage being understood and acted on all theway down the supply chain and all over the country?No it isn’t.

That’s why we believe this guide is necessary. As theFarrell Review of Architecture and the Built Environment2014 pointed out: “Landscape architecture and urbandesign are often the most valued by the public, yetcontradictorily the least valued in terms of fees andfrequently where the first savings are made on anygiven project.”

There is a growing evidence base, of which wehighlight a number of key statistics and sources inthe guide, that suggest this trend could be hurtingrather than helping developers’ bottom lines. In its‘The value of placemaking’ report last year, propertyconsultants Savills showed how investment in thepublic realm can potentially double average values offlats in parts of London. Defra and Natural England’s2013 report ‘Green infrastructure’s contribution toeconomic growth’ suggests developers already knowthis, with many of them prepared to pay at least 3%more for land in close proximity to open space, andsome putting that premium as high as 15-20%.

But that’s if you get to build. The fact is that thepublic don’t like housing developments that detractfrom, rather than add to, their neighbourhoods. Arecent Local Government Association survey foundthat 61% of councillors in England and Wales saidthat public opposition is the most significant barrierto housing development. That same survey alsoprovided the solution: asked what would make itmore acceptable to the public, 81% of councillorssaid benefits for the community, such as schools,health services and green spaces.

It is worth mentioning some of the case studies fromthe guide to illustrate this point. Accordia housingscheme in Cambridge master-planned by landscapearchitects Grant Associates and architects FCBSincorporates more than three times the amount ofgreen space of other housing developments in thearea. Each home was designed to overlook one ofthese green spaces and each space is linked to thenext via a network of footpaths and cycleways,pedestrian-friendly streets and subtle traffic-calmingmeasures that create a safe, 20mph zone. It is acommunity landscape – and in 2008 it became thefirst residential scheme to win the RIBA Stirling Prize.



Or how about Trumpington Meadows? Landscapearchitects Terence O’Rourke reconfigured the existingplans for this site to deliver almost twice as manyhomes as had been previously planned whileimproving the urban edge and green infrastructureframework. And because the developer was preparedto invest early in a country park, this has ensuredthat the species-rich meadow, native hedgerowplanting, wetland areas and large parkland treesthat have been established are likely to increase thevalue of adjacent housing parcels when they go onthe market. Savills currently estimates an averageincrease of 10% has been achieved.

Existing residents in cities, towns and villages need tobelieve that new housing will enhance, not diminish,their quality of life and the value of their homes.Meaningful landscapes can increase property prices,

but they also add capital and community value bycreating socially dynamic spaces. And more oftenthan not, this is the difference between those thatendure and those that have to be knocked downand started again.

Profitable places: Why housebuilders invest in landscapeis available to download at: http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/policy/Housing.php

Profitable Places will be complemented by a guide onhousing and landscape for local authority planners andplanning committee members.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noel FarrerPresident, Landscape Institute, and Director, Farrer Huxley AssociatesTel: 020 7685 2640www.landscapeinstitute.co.ukwww.twitter.com/talklandscape

Accordia, Cambridge, Brooklands Avenue, a forest Garden,Grant Associates

Noel FarrerPresident, Landscape Institute, and Director, Farrer Huxley Associates

Imag

e: ©

Rob

ert T

aylo

r

Find out more about the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E project by visiting:

http://www.saint-gobain.co.uk/university-students-zero-carbon-house.aspx

A New Model for Affordable Housing

How has a collaborative student-designed project become one of the first of its kind designed to some of the world’s most stringent design codes? Stacey Temprell, New Build Sector Director for Saint-Gobain, tells us how the world leader in sustainable habitat paired up with The University of Nottingham on the project.

Stacey TemprellResidential Sector Director

Nottingham H.O.U.S.E (Home Optimising the Use of Solar Energy) is a full-scale, fully functioning family home that complies with the future Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard (FEES), likely to be the requirement for the 2016 Zero Carbon Homes performance requirement.

The house has been designed to perform at a very low level of energy usage by optimizing both the building’s fabric and services to meet the Zero Carbon Hub’s FEES and the Government’s agenda for reduction of impacts on climate change and fuel poverty.

FEES is the proposed maximum space heating and cooling energy demand for zero carbon homes.

This is the amount of energy which would normally be needed to maintain comfortable internal temperatures. In a dwelling, this can be influenced by a number of factors, including building fabric U-values, thermal bridging, air permeability, thermal mass, external heat gain (solar) and internal heat gains such as metabolic activity or as a by-product of services.

FEES should ensure that a good minimum standard of building fabric (the longest-lasting part of a home) will be embedded in all new homes. It is measured in kWh/m2/year and is therefore not affected by carbon emission factors for different fuel types. For the majority of homes, levels of 39 and 46kWh/m2/year are proposed. Nottingham H.O.U.S.E achieves 36kWh/m2/year on the fabric alone, exceeding fabric standards required under FEES for even an apartment block. With an EPC rating of B, this represents a 46% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with Part L 2010 Building Regulation requirements.

Saint-Gobain contributed a range of products and systems selected for their appeal of minimizing total energy consumptions and maintaining an inexpensive structural scheme, as well as assisting the students with the specification of the house and providing technical support.

“ The project is the result of an extraordinary journey that provides an exemplar ‘zero carbon’ solution that is a viable, repeatable family home suitable for the UK housing market of the future.”

IR2550_SG_Nottingham_House_DPS_420x297mm_V5.indd 1 16/09/2014 10:05

Local links for the statutory Register of ArchitectsARB’s Interim Registrar and Chief Executive, Karen Holmes, explains howthey are working with local authorities to raise awareness of the statutoryRegister of Architects…

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is theUK’s statutory regulator of architects; itsresponsibilities are set out under the 1997

Architects Act. It is an independent public interestbody and its work in regulating architects ensuresthat good standards within the profession are consistently maintained for the benefit of thepublic and professionals alike. ARB’s responsibilitiescover the following areas:

Keeping the UK Register of Architects;•

Prescribing, or ‘recognising’ qualifications needed•to become an architect;

Ensuring that architects meet our standards for•conduct and practice;

Investigating complaints about an architect’s •conduct or competence;

Making sure that only people on the Register offer•their services as an architect; and

Acting as the UK’s Competent Authority for •architects.

How can we work together?ARB is currently working with a number of stakehold-ers to raise awareness that architects are regulated.‘Architect’ is a protected title under UK law and for anindividual to call themselves an architect, they mustbe registered with ARB. Architects have to undertakerecognised qualifications to ensure they meet thecriteria to be registered. The message for consumersis – individuals who say that they provide architectural

services or architectural consultancy may not beregistered and may therefore not have the samelevel of skills and experience. The quickest and easiest thing to do is check the register of architects –www.architects-register.org.uk .

Local authorities are becoming increasingly importantpartners in our work to raise awareness of the Register. Councils are committed to supporting theirresidents, and by working with us to raise awarenessof the Register, local authorities can assist in facilitat-ing the public in making an informed choice. A recentproject has seen a number of local planning officesadding links to the Register on their websites. Thisproject has proved particularly successful, generating3500 hits to ARB’s website.

Brent Council and Peterborough City Council haveboth designed these links especially well:

http://www.brent.gov.uk/services-for-residents/plan-ning-and-building-control/



http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/planning_and_build-ing/planning_permission/apply_for_planning_permis-sion/choosing_a_construction_profes.aspx

If you would like to add the ARB link to your website,please feel free to get in touch:http://www.arb.org.uk/contact-us

How does ARB support the consumer?Those of you working in planning and building control are on occasion asked by consumers forinformation about how to locate trusted serviceproviders. We recognise that many local authoritieshave policies not to recommend individual traders.In cases where members of the public are lookingfor an architect, these enquiries can be referred toARB. ARB maintains the statutory Register of Architects, which is a public Register. Members ofthe public can use the online Register to checkwhether someone is registered, or search for anarchitect in their area. Similarly, if local authoritiesbecome aware that someone is using the title‘architect’ when they are not on the Register, ARBsProfessional Standards team can investigate andtake the appropriate steps.

The online Register can be viewed at the followinglink www.architects-register.org.uk

What are the benefits of using an architectfrom ARB’s Register?For a member of the public, there are three principlebenefits of using an architect from ARB’s Register:

Education and training – Architects must •undertake recognised qualifications, covering allbuilding stages from conception to completion;

Professional indemnity insurance – Practising•architects are expected to hold adequate and appropriate insurance to cover any claims against them;

Professional conduct and competence –•Architects are required to act in accordance withthe Architects Code which sets out standards ofprofessional conduct and practice. The ARB

provides a mechanism for dealing with allegationsof unacceptable professional conduct and seriousprofessional incompetence against architects.

We are very keen to support those working in theplanning and construction sectors, and are delightedthat PBC Today are taking this proactive step toinform their readers about the role of the ArchitectsRegistration Board and how we can help. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen HolmesInterim Registrar and Chief ExecutiveArchitects Registration BoardTel: +44 (0)20 7580 [email protected]/arbuk1997LinkedIn – Architects Registration Boardwww.youtube.com/user/ArchitectsRegBoard

Karen Holmes, Interim Registrar and Chief Executive

The district energy renaissanceAs the uptake of district energy rises, more urban areas can future-prooftheir energy systems. However, challenges do remain as explained bySimon Woodward, Chairman at The UK District Energy Association…

District Energy is in renaissance, if you recallthe many dozens of networks that used toexist in the 1960’s/70’s, or if you do not

remember those old schemes you will see it as anew solution which is currently bursting onto theUK heating and cooling market as the golden bulletto solve low carbon heat supplies in dense urbanareas. Either way, it is a method of delivering lowcarbon energy which is clearly seeing a considerableincrease in uptake in the last two to three years.

However, there are still barriers to implementationwhich include high initial capital costs, lack ofunderstanding of how to design networks, apartfrom a few specialists, and almost no fiscal supportfor the implementation phase.

Fortunately, the situation is changing. As the uptakeof district energy (district heating and/or cooling)rises, the market expects installation prices to fall asnew entrants move into the industry and increasecompetition.

There are steps being taken to introduce codes ofpractice and training and considerable attention isnow being drawn to the issue of secondary networklosses in new build residential developments. This isparticularly a problem where a lack of thought hasbeen put into the design of the heating networkfrom the point it enters the apartment block, up toeach dwelling. With unit dwelling annual heating andhot water consumptions in the region of 4,000 kWhor less, the amount of energy lost in transmission of


The Energy Centre at Kings Yard on theOlympic site is a District Energy scheme


that heat to the dwelling is becoming proportionallyhigher and a major issue. Consultants are solvingthis by ventilating risers and even in some cases Ihave heard of air conditioning being added toovercome the overheating problems resulting fromthese heat gains. However, in reality sensible networkdesign including routing, levels of insulation andoperating temperatures can do much to reducethese losses to acceptable levels, removing theserather cumbersome engineering solutions to aproblem which should not exist.

What is certainly true is that once an urban area hasa district energy network, it has essentially futureproofed its energy system. When the initial sourcehas reached the end of its useful life, e.g. gas firedCHP, then other energy systems such as localisedenergy from waste, waste heat recovery or otherLZC emerging technologies can then be bolted into

this network to effect an “energy generation hearttransplant”.

However, the industry still needs support to deliverthis expected level of growth. Detailed analysis ofevery urban area in the UK carried out by the UKDistrict Energy Association demonstrated that itwould be realistic to take the percentage of homesconnected to a network from 2% to 14% by 2050.This analysis however assumes the implementationof a low carbon heat network incentive sitting along-side the RHI. The government is currently consideringa RHI Network Uplift – which is fantastic news – butas many schemes currently being delivered areusing gas fired CHP as their initial source, this willnot apply, requiring further work.

There has been an impressive number of over 80local authorities taking up DECC’s Heat NetworkDelivery Unit (HNDU) funding, to explore the feasibility of a network in their area. However, as theformer Head of the HNDU commented at the 2014UKDEA AGM, the success of the HNDU will not trulybe judged by the feasibility funding it has awarded,but by the pipes which are being installed as a resultof that funding in four years’ time.

Coupling this HNDU funding with the GLA’s push forheat networks in all new developments across Londonmeans that it is clear that the district energy landscapewill be very different in 2018 from where it is today,the question is just how different. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Simon WoodwardChairmanThe UK District Energy AssociationTel: 01285 [email protected]/TheUKDEA

A relatively simple installation of district heating network inthe highway. The pipes have been laid in place and are yetto be jointed

A Sustainable Future Begins With RetrofitIt is estimated that 22 million houses in the UK need to be thermally upgraded in order to achieve a worthwhile level of energy saving, with 8.5 million homes over 60 years old and considered hard to treat. But how are we tackling this and how has the past 12 months shaped up to meeting the UK’s long-term targets? Mark Weaver, Project Director for Retrofit for Saint-Gobain in the UK, explains the importance of retrofitting to reduce the energy consumption of the UK’s older, inefficient housing stock.

It is recognised that the UK has probably the oldest and least energy efficient housing stock in the western world. Residents in such properties feel the effects of this in the form of high energy bills, leading to unacceptable levels of fuel poverty. In order meet the UK’s 2050 CO2 commitments, the existing housing stock needs to be a high priority amongst Government policies.

Upgrading the thermal performance of the building envelope will reduce the

energy required to maintain a comfortable environment. Insulation solutions and low emissive glazing are solutions at the core of Saint-Gobain’s construction products sector. They can tackle all house types and elements of the building – walls, floors, roofs, windows and doors. Individually, treating these areas of the house can offer significant energy and savings on bills.

However, as demonstrated by Saint-Gobain’s unique Energy House

project, carried out in conjunction with leading academics from Leeds Metropolitan University, the University of Salford and Saint-Gobain Recherche, taking a whole-house fabric first approach to retrofitting a house can prove hugely beneficial for thermal improvement, air tightness and comfort for the habitants of the building.

During the three-month project, we identified that, with the installation of multiple measures, energy savings of up to

63% can be easily achieved, especially on poor performing properties, with a 50% reduction in unwanted air leakage.

Representing 21% of the UK’s hard-to-treat housing stock, the Energy House is a full-scale typical 1919 end-of-terrace house. Built in an environmentally controlled chamber, tests can be accurately monitored, varied and repeated while maintaining exactly the same conditions – something that most whole-house testing cannot achieve when done outdoors.

There has, and continues to be, much publicity about energy efficiency in the domestic retrofit sector in both the industry and national press. Much of it started late last year with the political debate around so-called ‘green levies’. This ultimately led to significant changes and the dilution of the original Energy Company Obligation (ECO), and, most recently, the sudden closure of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF). The GDHIF initiative offered up to £7,600

for home improvements such as solid wall insulation, cavity and loft insulation and heating measures. This series of events has resulted in an increased number of energy efficiency schemes being operated, but industry is reporting that fewer installations are actually being carried out.

I’m confident that things will improve, but 2014 is unfortunately shaping up to be a year of missed opportunities for the market. Perhaps this illustrates the need for more structural fiscal incentives such as discounts from council tax rates for homeowners installing energy efficiency products in their homes. Saint-Gobain is supportive of such measures to create sustainable growth in this sector.

However, we need to look to the positive elements and celebrate the retrofit projects that are happening across the country, many of which Saint-Gobain businesses such as Weber, Isover and Celotex are supplying to. These include social housing projects still funded by

the smaller and newly defined ECO, the Green Homes initiative in Scotland, where interest has been high, the 24 Green Deal Communities schemes for street-wide solid wall insulation and the one-off homeowner retrofits through the first wave of GDHIF vouchers. We are beginning to see genuine ‘blending’ of finance streams to deliver affordable retrofit for public and private properties – exactly how the Green Deal structure was envisaged. These are encouraging examples; we’d like to see the volumes reach a healthy level for industry investment, alongside a consistent policy framework for greater industry confidence.

In the meantime, Saint-Gobain will continue to develop retrofit solutions to meet the needs of the existing housing stock, and train and educate installers and contractors through the nationwide network of Saint-Gobain Technical Academies, leading the industry in providing a competent workforce to tackle the significant retrofit challenge.

IR2571_Salford_House_DPS_V2.indd 1 26/09/2014 15:42

Mindful BIM collaborationCollaboration is a key element in the successful execution of a BIM projectand can help to share information across teams. David Philp, Head of BIMat Mace and the UK BIM Task Group details how BIM can aid collaboration…

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is purported to aid collaborative working. Everyconference or symposium marries these two

themes together without really unpacking what thisrelationship looks like. Like BIM, collaboration hasdifferent meanings depending on your perspectiveand what lens you are looking through, indeed theCollins Dictionary defines collaboration as either:

1. The act of working with another or others on ajoint project;

2. Something created by working jointly with anotheror others;

3. The act of cooperating as a traitor.

Most would say that one and two are the mostcommonly related meanings in the context of ourindustry, though some I am sure would recognizethe third definition as a reality on some projects.

Hopefully we all identify collaboration as a key elementin the successful delivery and execution of a projectprogramme and as a lever to help break down silosand successfully share information across teams.The reality, as the author Morten Hansen points out isthat “bad collaboration is worse than no collaboration”and that “the goal of collaboration is not collaborationitself, but results.” So how can BIM really help uscollaborate and deliver better outcomes?

In this author’s opinion, the main pedal to ensuresuccessful collaboration in a BIM environment is aclear ‘purpose’. High-performing teams are driven bya well-defined purpose (do not confuse this with a

vision statement) and if BIM (Level 2) is good atanything it is; a) lots of new acronyms, but also b)defining clear information requirements at allstages of the asset life-cycle.

Level 2 maturity begins with clearly defining thepurposes of the model(s) and their uses. These arereferred to as the organisational and asset informationrequirements and are articulated to the supply chainthrough an Employer’s Information Requirement (EIR).

Defined information requirements, defined processes(PAS1192-2 and 3) for information delivery andagreed data exchange standards (BS1192-4 COBie)create a strong foundation for collaboration, andwhen properly worked through with the entire projectteam, help create unifying goals. The wise clientwould also do well to additionally invest in BS 11000Collaborative Business Relationships which definesroles and responsibilities and supports collaborativedecision-making.

Level 2 BIM also ensures that collaboration extendsbeyond delivery, with the requirement for ‘Soft land-ings’ and the requisite for an operational championto be involved throughout the plan of work for thatproject – starting with the end in mind and using themodel as a basis to visualise and test the lifecyclesolution at pre-construction stage. This is a great winin an industry where there is normally a large chasmbetween the delivery and operational lifecycles.

BIM is data rich in the context of both geometric andalphanumeric data which can be visualized in a 3D,or indeed an immersive environment. In terms of lowhanging fruit, BIM allows all stakeholders in a project



to clearly understand and explore the project life-cycle– often now assisted by ‘gamification’ methods andaugmented reality (AR) techniques. It is essentialhowever that organisations avoid ‘lonely BIM’, whereone solitary party sits staring at their exquisitemodel. Models need to be shared and used as abackdrop for decision making; if you like the modernvirtual day camp fire but without marshmallowsand bad singing. Projects using BIM should alwaysconsider as part of their strategy the creation ofphysical spaces where collaboration workshops canbe undertaken, models reviewed and decisionsmade with screens such as short throw projectors.These are often referred to as ‘big rooms’ or ComputerAssisted Virtual Environments (CAVEs).

It is also critical that rigor be given to managinginformation flow between the project stakeholderswithin the context of a common data environment(CDE) as set out in BS 1192:2007. In addition, thecollaborative production of architectural, engineeringand construction information Code of Practice, whichestablishes the outline methodologies for setting upthe BIM project cannot be ignored. To exploit collab-orative working processes, a common methodologyfor managing the data produced by, and betweenall parties, must be used. This should include thenaming of data as well as a process for exchangingdata. This common data environment is a key component of both level 1 and 2 BIM maturity.

Forms of procurement should also be considered asa lever to encourage collaboration. The GovernmentConstruction Strategy trialled the use of procurementroutes which sought early contractor engagement.The value of this timely appointment should not beunderestimated, however, it is essential that this

same strategy be considered in the early engagementof specialist contractors and manufacturers who arekey to a joined up data hierarchy. This is as much acultural change as it is a process change.

Open data standards which allow the transportationof information and support interoperability are alsoreally important to the collaborative investment weneed to ensure that everyone can play on a levelfield, especially SMEs. This is why the developmentof COBie and IFC are crucial to ensuring the uptakeof BIM across the construction community.

We must also consider the danger of informationoverload in a collaborative network; it is thereforeessential that the right amount of information, to theright level of maturity, at the right time, is established.It is crucial therefore that a well thought out MasterInformation Delivery Plan (MIDP) is establishedthrough a collaborative process before the informationexchange process begins.

What we must always remember is that constructionis a human endeavour and technology is there tosupport collaboration and not replace it. Indeed,the biggest danger is that we get bogged down in atechnical discussion when BIM is a behaviouralchange programme more than anything else. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Philp MSc BSc FRICS FCIOB FGBCHead of BIM at Mace and Head of UK BIM Task GroupMaceTel:+44 (0) 20 3522 3000www.macegroup.comwww.twitter.com/MaceGroup

David Philp MSc BSc FRICSFCIOB FGBCHead of BIM at Mace and Head of UK BIM Task Group

Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global riskmanagement and safety assuranceorganisation with over 9,000 employeesoperating in over 120 countries.

LR is historically known for classifying ships andindeed it still classifies approximately 20% of theworld fleet. It is less well known for its certificationof other safety critical assets, such as offshore oilrigs and platforms, as well as the UK nuclearprogramme certifications of Chapel Cross andCalder Hall in the 1950s, and the current buildprogramme at Hinkley ‘C’. More recently it hassuccessfully facilitated deregulation within theutilities sector; by working with the respectiveregulators to develop an accreditation scheme,standards within the utilities contracting sectorhave been significantly raised. Within the assetmanagement sector LR partly sponsored andproject-managed the development of the PAS 55standard, which has a feed in to BuildingInformation Modelling (BIM). LR has globallycertified more organisations against the PAS 55standard than any other body.

Within the construction sector LR has worked overa number of years with its partners Buildoffsite,Building Life Plans (BLP) and The Royal Institute ofChartered Surveyors (RICS) in conjunction with theCouncil of Mortgage Lenders to facilitate thegreater use of energy-efficient systems within theUK property market. To that end LR has developedthe process accreditation element of theBuildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS), ascheme developed to address the perceived risks

associated with offsite construction stakeholders.Building Information Modelling is aligned to theapplication of offsite construction systems andtherefore the development of a BIM accreditationscheme was a natural extension of LR’s involvementwithin the sector. Furthermore our track record ofsuccessful accreditation schemes enabled us tointroduce business best practices from othersectors into our evaluation process. This addedrigour supplements the BIM assessment criteriadefined in BS 1192:2007, PAS 1192-2 and PAS 91.

We carefully chose the organisation with which wepiloted the BIM accreditation process because itwould serve as a test bed and learning process forboth parties involved. With its extensive experienceof national and international BIM projects, AEC3 UKLtd served as the ideal organisation with which toperform the pilot. Furthermore the Director,Nicholas Nisbet, is a recognised authority in hisfield, having been involved with the developmentand implementation of BIM since 1977, duringwhich time he has contributed to the UK constructionstrategy and the industry response, and served asco-author of COBie, BS 1192:2007, and the BS 8541 series on construction product data.

The assessment of AEC3 UK Ltd culminated in theaccreditation of their BIM Business Systems forthe following scopes of work:

n BIM Object Provider/Originator

n BIM Project collaboration software SystemsService Provider

Lloyd’s Register BIM accreditation Scheme

Lloyd’s Register is progressing a number of BIMaccreditation assessments and for information onthe scheme please access our website page via thelink below:

http://www.lloydsregister.co.uk/schemes/building-information-modelling/

Or contact:

Terry Mundy Business Development ManagerTel: 07712 787 851Email: [email protected]

The presentation of the Lloyd’s Register BIMAccreditation Certificate by Terry Mundy, BusinessDevelopment Manager, Lloyd’s Register EMEA, toNicholas Nisbet, Director of AEC3, at the BSI BIMConference in London

Nick said of the accreditation process:

“We are delighted to be the first companyto gain LR accreditation in BIM, both forAEC3 and for our customers who benefitfrom competently developed, efficient,repeatable and checkable project andproduct information.”

“Everyone from manufacturers throughto clients need to move away frominformal and error-prone craft methods.Accreditation shows AEC3 is leadingthe way”.

BIM – where will the product information come from?The potential impact of BIM on all stages of construction is undeniable. Expectations on the part of clients and other stakeholders are great and growing all the time as experience accumulates and as case studies based on successful projects emerge.

Part of the reason for this is that BIM can best be seen as belonging to a suite of related technologies and new ways of working – such as off-site manufacturing, smart buildings, data management, higher performing buildings – which collectively have been called digital engineering. The impact on how the built environment is designed, constructed, maintained, operated and dismantled or rebuilt will be profound.

Such statements are becoming commonplace and almost taken for granted. Indeed, to illustrate this, the Construction 2025 strategy launched last year is to a large extent formed around the idea that properly implemented, digital engineering will be capable of supporting the industry’s need and desire for transformation, to perform at an altogether higher level (33% lower cost, 50% faster delivery, 50% lower impact).

It is becoming clear that as an industry either we already have the necessary tools, or that tools will be developed in the foreseeable future. BIM itself will continue to evolve and we can expect the flow of innovation to continue, but it is also clear that we face a step

Image showing on-site temperature measurements being taken as part of whole house test programme.

Products manufacturers, like Saint-Gobain, carry out extensive testing on their products, both in laboratory conditions and on-site. With access to all this test data, who is best placed to provide high quality BIM datasets?

change, or a discontinuity, initially as more of the industry gets on the first rungs of the ladder of this new way of working. It is easy to see BIM level 2, namely forming and using the digital libraries of core information, as representing these first steps. Having addressed level 2 we will need to embrace BIM level 3 and all that that might bring with it, which many observers are expecting to enable the real transformation of the industry which is ultimately sought.

However good and efficient the software tools are, it is easy to overlook the other elements which need to be in place to make the whole design and build process work to actually deliver the quality and benefits expected by stakeholders, supply chain and clients. Some of these elements, such as collaborative working and sharing of information, are touched on in the other articles in this supplement. One specific area, of interest to manufacturers and suppliers like Saint-Gobain, is to do with the data, especially that to do with products, materials and assemblies, which form one aspect of the information input into the building or construction model. A moment’s reflection enables one to realise that the library of product information being used by the BIM design tool needs to be appropriate, accurate and up to date, or errors will be hidden only to emerge at a later date in say the build or assembly process, or during operation, which will potentially be very costly to resolve.

As the use of BIM progresses from level 2 to level 3 it is clear that the depth and range of product information required by the designer will continually grow – from dimensional data, to include performance (thermal, structural properties, acoustics, embodied carbon, recyclability etc). Since BIM is not just about working in a different way but it also includes the idea that ultimately the client expects it to contribute to higher performance at a lower cost, then competitive commercial pressures will be brought to bear and will help to shape how

BIM is used. To win work the designer will need to have confidence that the optimum design is being offered, in all senses, and that this design can be delivered in reality. This means that the task is not just about the elimination of errors and uncertainty in the raw data, but that the right products are being used and those products have the precise properties (and associated data) sought and assumed by the designer in assembling the solution to be offered to the client. As additional dimensions of data start to be integrated into the BIM model this challenge will only grow.

One solution offered is to use a library of generic product data – using average or typical data taken from across the market of a number of different versions of similar products (insulation, glass, wall linings, structural components, cladding etc). At first sight this solution may appear to offer a way through: a third party takes on the task of collating, interpreting and analysing the

data to form a set of typical numbers which the BIM model can then simply connect with and extract. But what are the disadvantages and is there a better way?

In any industry, manufacturers will vie with each other to develop and bring to market more competitive products and solutions. Construction is no exception. In the information-rich age of BIM, an integral part of this improvement process is the dataset associated with each product which will enable competent modelling and design optimisation. The use of generic or average data, of ill-defined ownership, would increase the risk of inaccurate data as well as resulting, in all probability, a sub-optimal design with the consequent risk of it also being less competitive commercially than one resulting from the use of better quality data relating to the actual physical solution being proposed.

Where does this higher quality, more useful, data come from? Manufacturers are in the best position to be able to offer this: they own the raw data for their particular product portfolio; they understand how to use their products in terms of design and installation; they invest in product development to bring to market solutions targeted to address specific needs; they

provide technical support services on all aspects of their product or solution.

Leading manufacturers, such as Saint-Gobain, are developing the

delivery of this information in an on-line format for BIM so that the data is ‘live’.

In the digital engineering age – where a building is built twice, once virtually in the BIM model and once on the construction site – product characteristics

need to be captured in the form of electronic datasets which can be

utilised and relied on by the supply chain. If a product feature is not in

such a format its value is reduced. For the supply chain as a whole, and for individual links in the chain, to operate at maximum effectiveness and competitiveness the best quality data, namely the latest live data from the manufacturer, should be used. As digital engineering evolves, and demand for richer information grows, it will become even more critical to use manufacturers’ live data.

Owner

Architect

Mechanical Engineers

ElectricalEngineers

Civil Engineers

Construction Products

Manufacturer

Contractors

Construction Managers

IR2571_BIM_DPS.indd 1 26/09/2014 15:46

Manufacturing for BIMAddressing the challenges faced by manufacturers in the BIM process requiresthat digital product information can be exchanged with supply chain partners.Steve Thompson, Chair of BIM4M2 discusses the support and advice available…

Even before the UK Government announced itsintention to require collaborative 3D BIM onits projects by 2016, the construction industry

had been busy readying itself for the change to adigital world. Whilst it is clear that the creation,exchange and use of product data is crucial to theBIM process, a common understanding of the typeof information that product manufacturers shouldprovide to support BIM has been missing. In Marchof this year BIM4M2 was formed, with the purposeto support product manufacturers through thetransition to a BIM-ready industry, and to provide aforum to share their knowledge.

For me, one of the most exciting aspects of BIM isthe willingness of organisations and individualsacross the industry to collaborate and work togetherto address the challenge. Manufacturers have beenusing digital information and processes for over halfa century, but exchanging digital information withsupply chain partners is a very different proposition,and one that the sector is eager to tackle. From thepreliminary results of the survey of manufacturersthat our Promotions Working Group are undertaking,93% of those responding said they plan to invest inthe process (41% already have, and 52% will have by2016). So, for many the question is less aboutwhether to develop their BIM capabilities, but moreabout how, in what format and on which platforms?This is where the real challenges lie for the manufac-turer, and the answers can be different for everyorganisation depending on their product types,supply chain routes, markets, regions and scale.However, the basic principles remain the same, toprovide structured digital product information thatcan be exchanged with supply chain partners.

Adding to the complexity is the different informationrequirements of members of the client and supplychain team on any given project. To find a waythrough the complexity, we need to work together asan industry and develop an agreed way of describingproducts and their attributes, both for the UK andinternationally. Certainly BS1192:4 (COBie) formspart of the solution as the mandated exchangeformat for Level 2 in the UK, and the broader IndustryFoundation Classes (IFC) are also crucial; but theseneed to be supported by further definition of whatinformation supply chain partners need and how thiscan be presented consistently by product suppliers.I’ll illustrate this using a customer satisfaction approach.

As we know, on any construction project the clienthas a set of requirements that need to be metthrough the delivery of the project, and to supporttheir delivery is a set of information requirements. Inthe BIM process these are the Employer’s InformationRequirements (EIR). Added to this, members of the supply chain also need information to deliverthe project effectively, and to share with others.In the BIM process these are described in the BIMExecution Plan (BEP).


Mix of manufacturer organisation size respondingto the BIM4M2 survey, and where they export to


Without close engagement and accurate definition ofwhat information is required and the level of granularity(element, system, product), there is real potential fora gap between the supply team’s expectations onwhat information a manufacturer provides and whatwill be delivered: the expectation-delivery gap. Witha common framework for product information,supply teams will know what to expect, manufacturerswill know what to provide as a minimum, and thegap between expectation and delivery is reduced.

With the development of COBie, the Digital Plan ofWork and BS 8541 parts 1-6 in the UK, the gap willcertainly begin to close where they are applied. Toreduce the gap further the BIM4M2 Data TemplatesWorking Group are working closely with other BIM4Community groups, clients, professional institutes,trade associations and content providers to developand refine product data templates to enable suppliersto provide information in a consistent format. Thereshould, and will always be the potential to go further,but the templates will look to set the baseline tosupport the requirements of a Level 2 BIM maturity.

For those supplying products internationally, acommon concern is that in developing structuredinformation or objects for the UK, they will need tocreate different information for use in every regionthey operate in. The good news is that with thedevelopment of an ISO standard for the BIM process,

there is the potential to reduce the differences thatexist, and by structuring our information in a commondigital format, it makes exchange of informationacross regions much more straightforward.

Furthermore, the BIM4M2 Education Working Groupis developing guidance for product manufacturerson the implications of BIM, and how to develop anddeliver a BIM strategy that is fit for their business.

If you would like further information on the group,or to get involved please contact us through ourwebsite or on the details provided. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Thompson RIBAChairBIM4M2 – BIM4 Manufacturers and [email protected]/SGThompsonBIMwww.twitter.com/bim4m2www.linkedin.com/company/bim4m2

Steve Thompson RIBA, Chair BIM4M2

The expectation-delivery gap

26 PROFILE

The use of BIM is increasing rapidlyacross the construction sector. By 2016it will be compulsory for fully collabo-

rative BIM processes to be used on all gov-ernment projects greater than £5 million invalue. The wider industry is adopting BIM asa way to more accurately predict and ensureperformance throughout the life of the build-ing; from initial design to operation and evendeconstruction. It is suggested that by 2016over half of UK projects will use the method1.In order to get the best out of BIM, accuracyof product and system objects is essential.

BIM can decrease waste, increase the effi-ciency of building operation and assist col-laborative working throughout the designand construction process. The large amountof information which is compiled at thebeginning of the project makes the manage-ment of the building easier after handoverand improves the ability to recycle efficientlyat the demolition/refurbishment stage.

Critical to the realisation of the benefits BIMcan bring to the construction industry is theuse of BIM objects that are current andupdated in real time. To support this, BritishGypsum launched the White Book SystemSelector in January this year, which is anonline tool designed to help streamline thespecification process for construction profes-sionals. It allows specifiers to search andfilter through tested British Gypsum plaster,drylining and ceiling system solutions toselect the right specifications for the job.Building Information Modelling objects

(.rvt), CAD (.dwg) drawings, National Build-ing Specification (NBS) Clauses and productand system datasheets (.pdf) are then avail-able to download for the chosen solutions.This allows specifiers to retrieve importantinformation in a few easy steps. Featuringsimple and easy to follow search criteria,familiar to users of the White Book, this toolenables specifiers to filter by a variety of per-formance requirements, such as fire andacoustics, and be presented with a relevantsolution for the job.

The holistic efficiency benefits that the use ofBIM can bring to a construction projectthroughout its entire life can only be realisedif accurate data is used, therefore it’s vital toinclude high-quality product information,

Paul FrenchCommercial Market ManagerBritish Gypsumwww.british-gypsum.com

Ensuring accuratedata for BIM projects

and where better to get this than direct fromthe product manufacturer?

1 Competitive Advantage, Adoption of BIM 2013

british-gypsum.com

White Book System SelectorFind system solutions and BIM data quicklyRevit BIM files for all our system solutions can be downloaded from our online White Book System Selector. This tool works by using performance filters, such as fire integrity or acoustic insulation to search for the ideal solution to meet your project requirements.

It is vital that information contained within a building model is correct, as it will remain with the construction throughout its life; design, construction, operation and deconstruction. A key element to this approach is accurate system and product data, which is why we produce and validate this ourselves, ensuring a precise and reliable solution.

For more information, visit british-gypsum.com/wbssbim or call our Technical Advice Centre on 0844 800 1991.

NFB BIM survey reveals barriers to adoption remainThe 2014 Contractor Survey from the National Federation of Buildersindicates an increase in relation to BIM readiness and use, however anumber of barriers still remain which preclude full adoption…

In 2012 the NFB published its report BIM: Readyor not? The report was based on an industry widesurvey which set out to assess the readiness of

the contracting sector with a particular focus on SMEs.At the time, the survey confirmed that the industryhad a giant leap to make if it were to achieve thegovernment mandate of BIM level 2 by 2016. Specificbarriers to adoption were identified as:

A lack of information available for companies to•make an informed decision about BIM;

A lack of client of demand;•

A perception of prohibitively high investment costs.•

The overall message of the 2012 survey findingsindicated that there was a clear gap between the

appetite for BIM in terms of the commercial rationaleon the one hand, and the knowledge and skills totake action on the other.

In 2013, the NFB launched a second survey to measure and assess the progress made by the sector.The interim results make comparisons with thefindings of the 2012 survey.

Respondents were asked what they perceived thegreatest barriers to adoption to be. The results indicated the greatest barriers to be a lack of educationand training and an unwillingness of industry tocollaborate. These were followed closely by thepurchasing of software in not only the cost, but alsoconfusion around compatibility across their supplychain. Client demand was still seen as a barrier,with almost half choosing this option. This was



also one of the findings from the first survey whichindicates that there is still a lack of client drive towardsimplementation which may be reflected in the willingness of the industry to adopt BIM. Significantly,regional public procurement is not included in thecentral government mandate for BIM. The publicsector client is very much the driver of BIM at thislevel but a large proportion of public sector clientssimply do not understand BIM and how adoptioncan be achieved. The NFB’s Client Readiness survey,published earlier this year, identified that over 50%of public sector clients thought that BIM should be acore competency, but this lack of understandingprovided a barrier to both demand and adoptionof BIM within this sector of the industry. The lack ofa mandate at this level is resulting in a slow andfragmented uptake and without the demand fromclients, contractors can be reluctant to make thefinancial commitment to training or the developmentof a strategic approach to BIM.

In order to gauge general understanding of BIM,respondents were asked what they perceive BIM tobe, and whether they understand what it means fortheir projects. Respondents provided answers tomore than one option for this question, with 83% ofrespondents indicating that they understand BIM tobe a collaborative process, clearly indicating that

BIM is now perceived to be more than 3D drawingsand software amongst contractors.

In the 2012 survey, 43% of respondents stated theydid not perceive BIM as a core competence withintheir business, however in the 2014 survey thisincreased to 76%.

A large number of contractors indicated in the earliersurvey that they were not planning to train theirstaff or were waiting for BIM to standardise. Overhalf now stated that they had or would be organisingtraining and a third that staff will be attending freeevents. This is a positive finding with only the minoritywaiting for practices to standardise or not train atall, again highlighting that industry are progressingwith the adoption of BIM.

The picture generated overall from the NFB’s 2014Contractor Survey indicates that the industry isbeginning to see an increase in relation to BIMreadiness and use amongst the contracting sector.Many now perceive BIM to be a core competencywithin their organisation. However, a number ofbarriers still remain which preclude full adoption ofBIM and there is still much work to do if the industryis to meet the 2016 deadline. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . National Federation of Builders (NFB)Tel: 0845 057 8160 www.builders.org.ukwww.twitter.com/nfbuilders

What do you perceive the greatest barriers to adoption of BIM to be?(You can tick more than one box)

Response

Lack of industry collaboration 58%

Integrity of information 23%

Education and training 68%

Purchasing of software 49%

Forms of contract 18%

Cost 39%

Liability / risk concerns 17%

Uncertainties regarding ownership of data 30%

Lack of clarification of roles and responsibilities 24%

Lack of expertise / experience 52%

Supply chain 48%

Client demand 44%

Lack of inter-operability between software solutions 28%

Clarity of client requirements 38%

30 PROFILE

BIM, despite being a small acronym, isa big word in construction. Whilethere has been a lot of hype around

BIM over the last few years we see the conversation is starting to shift toward companies asking – what’s really in it for me?However, the discussion needs to furtherevolve to start looking at how BIM can helpdefine and create better business outcomes.

Models are important but they aren’t the beall and end of the information revolution –it’s the data that’s important, and for manyin the industry that will still be shared infamiliar 2D products like MS Word or Excel.

BIM allows clients, operators and mainte-nance teams to have all their data for anasset in one place. It allows for meaningfulanalysis across a wider selection of businessinformation to be carried out rather thanmaking business decisions based uponanecdotal guesses. By combining disparatedata sets together – linked around a modelof the asset – it becomes possible to reviewinfrastructure data in a much more powerfulway and as a result, manage assets better.

Implementing and using shared data setswith feedback of what actually works – provenby hard evidence – will improve design in thefuture. However, this shift of how we manageinformation requires more than just usingsoftware, it requires a behavioural change.This is the real change that BIM brings tobusinesses. It breaks down silos and enablesindividuals, groups and departments to shareinformation openly and transparently. This

doesn’t mean that all information needs tobe shared with everyone all the time – BIMprovides the opportunity for relevant infor-mation to live in the model and only beaccessed when needed.

While BIM has and is continuing to helpevolve and change the construction industrythe next big step will be harnessing remotesensing and telemetry. Real time feedbackon the performance of structures such asbridges and tunnels will allow managers tounderstand how their assets are actually performing. Automating processes so thatout of range figures trigger further analysisor inspections, creates the ability for pre-emptive maintenance to be carried out in a structured way rather than just having reactive or end of life strategies in place.

BIM can mean something different to every-one and that’s not a bad thing. But betterdata sets make for better decision makingand help owners, operators, designers andinstallers work much more efficiently from aposition of knowledge rather than ignorance.

Tekla Structures BIM softwareWe constantly test and develop Tekla Structuresand help you to get started with it.

Models created with Tekla BIM softwarecarry the accurate, reliable and detailedinformation needed for successful BuildingInformation Modelling and construction execution. Welcome smoother workflow toyour company with Tekla Structures and constructable models.

Duncan Reed

Digital Construction Process ManagerTeklaTel: +44 113 307 [email protected]/uk

BIM – defining better information management

Tekla works with all materials and the mostcomplex structures – you set the limits. Ourcustomers have used Tekla Structures tomodel stadiums, offshore structures, plantsand factories, residential buildings, bridgesand skyscrapers.

Help with implementationTekla staff and our resellers help with imple-mentation of the software. We work closelywith our customers and offer local support,training and consultation.

Open approach to BuildingInformation ModellingAlthough Tekla is ready to use, the softwareis also highly customisable. As Tekla has anopen approach to BIM, you can run otherproviders’ solutions and fabrication machin-ery and still interface with Tekla. Extendingand enhancing Tekla Structures is easy withTekla Open API, the application interface.

Duncan Reed, Digital Construction Process Manager, Tekla

For further information on how Tekla can assist with BIM implementation and other consultancy services we offer, please call 0113 307 1200.

a www.tekla.com/uk

DO BIM BETTER WITH TEKLA

With the almost daily BIM announcements by clients, contractors and suppliers identifying their increased ef�ciencies and greater value by adopting BIM, not to mention the Government drive towards adoption by 2016, Tekla recognise that forming a BIM strategy alongside responding to CE Marking and ISO requirements can seem a daunting task. We can help with the implementation of BIM within your organisation - advising on making the right business decisions, getting the most from your software and help with work�ow procedures to ensure you are ready for the challenge ahead.

A TRIMBLE COMPANY

COBie in the UKNicholas Nisbet, Lead Technical Author of the latest BIM standard developed byBSI, and director of AEC3 UK Ltd, talks about the standard’s impact on COBie…

COBie (Construction Operations Buildinginformation exchange) is a standard formatfor sharing facilities information. It is

designed to ensure that the client gets all the information needed to own and operate the facilityin a reliable form.

Informally one can think of COBie as a well-appointedsuitcase that allows us to move information from theproject team across to the client team. The sides ofour suitcase are transparent: anyone can see what isand what isn’t yet included: we see slots for all ouressentials and lots of free space for our loose items.

So what are the essentials? It’s the project, site andthe facility itself, the list of visit-able spaces andlocations (forget the cupboards), and a list of themanageable components (forget the reinforcementbars). These spaces are grouped into floors andlocations, and into zones such as occupancy andactivities. The components are organised by theirspecification (type) and by their functions (systems).Each of these needs a name, description and classification, and a note of by whom and whenthey were added.

These can then be supplemented with additionalloose items such as attributes, document references,contact details, maintenance instructions, and costand carbon impacts.

The “COBie for all” working group has run througha series of infrastructure scenarios, from simplestations through detailed track and motorwayhandover, right up to progressive handover of awhole new line. We have found that COBie can do

the job: in fact COBie helped resolve some of thecasual ambiguities that creep into conventionalpractice. Some specifics such as the use of LinearReferencing Methods turned out to be not so different to building practice, such as the use ofgrids in large spaces.

But the importance of COBie lies in its efficiency:neither the client nor the designers/contractorsneed waste time designing suitcases, but instead canfocus packing the correct information. If you want apacking list, then the Employers Information Require-ments (EIR) and the forthcoming digital Plan ofWork (dPoW) will give the detail. But given the baseasset register, the content of COBie is driven by realpurposes such as using or maintaining, or operatingor monitoring, or repurposing the facility.

Like any good suitcase, you don’t always have to fill itall at once: COBie has proved invaluable for clientbriefing and schedules of accommodation. Later itcan contain the Room (and Zone) Data Sheets (RDS).As a progress report, COBie can be used to conveyto and from the client, the state of his facility. Productmanufacturers often offer COBie in preference overproprietary 3D objects, especially if their products areless likely to be modelled or selected in early stages.So although COBie’s primary purpose is to deliverhandover information, it can offer the whole UKfacilities industry a step into a world of containerisedinformation transport.

It is a required deliverable by 2016 in central government projects where information must flowinto portfolio, asset planning and facility maintenancetools. Private clients are already seeing the same



value. Applications such as Revit, Xbim, Solibri and AEC3are offering tools that help the supply side. Suggestionsfor generating, comparing and checking COBie areopenly available ( www.bimtaskgroup.org/labs ). Onthe receiving side, UK CAFM tools are now catchingup with US applications and offering COBie support.

Is COBie too difficult (like “long-division” as one criticclaimed)? Hopefully not for a mature and accurateindustry moving into a data-rich era. Our advice is touse a calculator! Is it too simple (“IFC-lite”)? COBie is100% convertible with IFC and is entirely usable onevery computer and smart device, so it is likely to bearound for a while yet.

“…although COBie’s primary purpose isto deliver handover information, it canoffer the whole UK facilities industry astep into a world of containerisedinformation transport.”

Where can one learn to speak COBie? There are anumber of 10-minute movies on YouTube (search“COBie east”). There are lots of free examples on thebuildingSMART Alliance and BIM Task Group websites(search “COBie-UK-2012”) and shortly there will bethe full British Standard.

In November 2013, a working group of the BSI construction information committee B555 begancollaborating on a standard description of the UKuse of COBie. The outcome is named “BS 1192-4 –Collaborative production of information – Part 4:Fulfilling employers information exchange requirementsusing COBie – Code of practice” with the draft forpublic comment completed at the end of July, whenthe group reconvened to assess the feedback andmake any final adjustments.

Anyone familiar with the earlier “COBie-UK-2012”,and the training material available on YouTube willrecognise the core content. It takes a holistic view of

the built environment, suggesting how facilitiesincluding infrastructure, environmental areas andbuildings can use the COBie 2.4 schema. It addressesboth new-build and refurbishment and so complementsboth PAS 1192 part 2 and PAS 1192 part 3. Thestandard offers a clear ‘lean’ approach to deliveringinformation: first identifying the purposes for whichthe information is needed, then following throughwith the implications in terms of which objects, andwhich attributes. It expects the employer’s informationrequirements (EIR) to at least specify these purposesand allows for the nomination of a detailed digitalPlan of Work (dPoW) which should become the acidtest for completeness.

At the heart of the UK Government Constructionstrategy is substantial improvements in the efficiencyof the industry. Comparability is at the heart andCOBie offers a formal way of transmitting the costsand carbon effects (along with other environmentalmeasures) for the whole facility and for the individualfunctional systems and occupancy zones. Thismoves asset data into the heart of strategic assetmanagement and decision making. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicholas NisbetLead Technical Author of the latest BIM standardand Director of AEC3 UK LtdBSI (British Standards Institution)Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 [email protected]

BIM means lots of things to manypeople and risks being one of themost misused words in construction,

however BIM represents the enabler to atransformation that is engulfing not only theUK but also the global design, engineering &construction market; and why, because BIMenables us to work together more easily, ina modern digital environment. Using BIM we are encouraged to share informationbringing efficiency and visibility, to ultimately,reduce the risk and cost of our projects. Inaddition we influence and improve the ongoingoperation of our assets, delivering a bettermore intelligent output for our clients and indoing so providing them with more value intheir portfolio of assets.

BIM enables people to interact with theirprojects in a visual environment, but isincreasingly focussing on “the I in BIM”, theINFORMATION, which is held within themodelled objects as data. With modern BIM tools, information previously held inseparate and disconnected documents, can be created and held within the modelledobjects as the central repository for core projectinformation.

Like the automotive industry before us, theefficiency and simplicity of a managed infor-mation process contributed to the renewedsuccess of manufacturing. The effect hasbeen that we buy more cars, appreciate thefact that they are more reliable, last longerand cost less to use and maintain – vehiclemanufacturing is in new health.

Bringing the simplicity andopportunity of BIM to all

34 PROFILE

PROFILE 35

The expectation is the same for the constructionindustry, allowing us to define and commu-nicate our requirements better, iron out issuesbefore arrival on site, remove unnecessarywaste in the process and provide, for theClient, a better service and an intelligentmodel that can help better manage theclients asset through its operational lifecycle.

Not surprisingly achieving the utopia fromthis transformation, like all transformationshas it’s challenges, however, much has beendone to address the needs of industrythrough new technology, and the guidancefor the new BIM enabled project deliveryprocess is established in the British Standardand PAS 1192 series, but to maximise thebenefits of these new tools we need to considerthe working practice changes that are alsoneeded in many environments.

Driven by a focus on low cost procurementthat can result in uncertain end out cost and,subject to your position in the supply chain,insufficient consideration of whole life operational cost, together with margins drivenever lower in a highly competitive market weare often faced with risk aversion rather thanmore proactive risk management.

However, in some parts of our industry sup-pliers and manufacturers are fully integratedwith 3D CAD-CAM tools either direct to man-ufacture or through the creation of fully co-ordinated pre-assembled or pre-manufacturedmodules that dramatically reduce the onsitework and risks in installation and in doing soprovide a higher quality product, manufacturedand tested in a controlled environment.

The vision of BIM is that all parties in thesupply chain collaborate across the samesource of information, and make informeddecisions based on better information withan improved awareness of the repercussionson others.

BIM delivers the maximum benefit when allparties take part, the leadership of key

Clients like Government, who acknowledgethe benefits in project delivery and on-goingasset management has been instrumental inestablishing BIM as a modern working practice.

The prize for all of us is a better, more efficient,higher quality, world leading industry.

Providing a simple solution to the technologyand workflow issues of BIM is where Clearboxcan support the process.

Clearbox Clearbox are a technology provider lookingto bring the opportunity of BIM to all throughtheir digital information hub BIMXtra whichenables simple access to the informationbased around a true common data environ-ment. BIMXtra addresses many of the issuesof BIM by bridging the gap between thecomplexity of the BIM authoring tools and theplethora of project tools that characterise thecurrent construction market. BIMXtra not onlysupports project delivery during the designand construction phase but delivers out the

intelligent asset information at handover toprovide a new level of opportunity for FacilityManagement and Asset Management.

BIMXtra takes information from BIM and makesit available to all in the simplest of approaches.Each user has access to the information theyneed in the right format at the right time,allowing the influence of BIM to be shared outfrom the design through the entire projectdelivery phase. BIM in BIMXtra not only enablesinterrogation and exploitation of the visualsbut also extends and enables the full digitalinformation management of the project.

Developed by individuals with years of expe-rience of delivering design and build projects,and who use BIMXtra tools themselves ontheir own projects, BIMXtra will help enableconsultants, contractors, and SMEs alike toenjoy and benefit from BIM.

So if you are starting your journey or haveuncovered some of the complexities ofBIM then we can support you to meet the

requirements of Level 2 BIM and beyond asa hosted solution. As 2016 approaches andthe gap between the haves and have not’s ofthe BIM world grows there is no better time tojump on board and benefit from the lessonslearnt from some of the early adopters.

In this, the first of four articles leading to the2016 deadline we aim to take you on a jour-ney of the simple functionality that is nowreadily available, as well as reassure indi-viduals of the benefits of BIM that can berealised in case studies. In the next papers

Graeme ForbesManaging DirectorClearboxTel: +44 (0)800 085 [email protected]

we will address the solutions and some casestudies to allow users to appreciate the scaleof the benefits and the simplicity and easewith which this can be achieved starting withthe interface to programme.

Graeme ForbesGraeme Forbes is the Managing Director ofClearbox a technology and consulting busi-ness that brings years of experience in theBIM space through new collaborative toolsthat help to bring simplicity to the deliveryof BIM based projects.

36 PROFILE

| 37Building Control

Performance standards to rely onPaul Wilkins, Chair of the ACAI outlines what standards apply to organisationsdelivering building control and how these can help the customer…

The Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors for the private sector (ACAI), alongwith Local Authority Building Control for the

public sector (LABC), are working together to explainthe performance standards expected of all buildingcontrol bodies in England & Wales.

As Chair of the ACAI, it is part of our remit to raise theprofile of building control as a service that is valued,and will continue to support objectives and initiativesthat encourage best practice and cooperation acrossboth the public and private sectors.

Building control bodies work with the BuildingRegulations which provide a flexible set of nationalstandards for building work covering all projectsfrom major new commercial developments and newhomes, to extensions and home alterations. At theirbest, building control bodies provide a proactiveand valued solution to help designers and developersdemonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations.

However, because a competitive dual system ofbuilding control exists in England and Wales (publicand private sectors), successive government ministersin both countries have maintained an advisorygroup to measure performance. The Building ControlPerformance Standards Advisory Group (BCPSAG)sets and measures the standard of service providedby these building control bodies each year. This isnow a sub-function of BRAC – Building RegulationsAdvisory Committee – which is a non-departmental,industry-based, advisory group sponsored by theEnglish and Welsh governments.

A new article describing the performance standardsapplied to building control organisations, andexplaining how these affect customers is now available

on the website of the representative body for ACAI,LABC, the RICS, CABE and CIOB – the Building ControlAlliance (BCA). The article is also available on ourwebsite and explains how customers can use thesestandards as a way of evaluating, short-listing andcomparing building control bodies for their own work.

Market feedback shows that building control ratesare very competitive without a wide range of pricing.But, quality, competencies, delivery and managementvary much more widely. Customers can use thestandards to understand how best practice shouldbe delivered, but more importantly, the standardsexist to help evaluate the existing or proposedrelationship with a building control partner or usedto compare services.

There are nine key BCPSAG standards.

1. Policy, performance and management systemThis means every building control body shouldcreate and publish a business policy covering thepromised support and service levels to customers.This includes legal obligations in achieving compliance.In addition, the organisation should have a QualityManagement System for recording and measuringdelivery that is available to customers to analyse.

2. Resources Having promised support and service levels, buildingcontrol bodies should demonstrate that they possessthe resources and competencies to deliver thesepromises on all categories of work undertaken. It’simportant to check if the building control providerhas the experience or professional knowledge towork on all categories of building work, with sufficientsurveyors possessing the right competencies tosupport a new project.

3. ConsultationBuilding control bodies should set out how theywill undertake all statutory consultations in a timelymanner and how the observations of consultees(eg fire services) should be communicated in writingto the customer. Ensuring a robust process is inplace that will complete these consultations is a keyrequirement.

4. Pre-application contact and provision of adviceThis enables building control bodies to explain howthey will work with customers during the early designprocess to provide feedback on plans, compliance,innovation and affordable solutions. It includesthe provision of a named ‘account manager’ toensure continuity of thinking throughout a project.Pre-application design advice on compliance is avital area of cooperative feedback and innovation,and again raises the profile of the industry.

5. Assessment of plansBuilding control bodies have to demonstrate how,when assessment of plans is undertaken, they willcommunicate feedback on compliance issues andthe views of statutory consultees including anyconditions pertaining to the approval or passing ofplans. As ‘plan checking’ is a vital area of feedbackthat can save money and time during construction,it’s advisable to ask how much feedback will bereceived from whom and what experience they have.

6. Site inspectionBuilding control providers must state how they willdetermine and agree a project service plan with cus-tomers, what will be covered, when, and inspected.Additionally, they should explain how notes will bemade and recorded together with an explanationof how contraventions will be communicated andresolved. Customers should understand what leveland frequency of site visits will be received from theservice plan quote (tender/proposal) provided by abuilding control body. For example, what happensif site issues are found or problems occur duringconstruction requiring more inspections?

7. Communications and recordsThis covers the provision of notices, written records,

documentation and certificates plus their storage in aretrievable way for at least 15 years. Local authoritiesand approved inspectors operate under differentregimes so customers should understand the policyof the building control body appointed.

8. Business and professional ethicsThis is a commitment from building control bodies torespect the codes of professional practice governingindividual professionals. Customers should understandthat professional codes do apply and that conflicts ofinterest or matters of principle can arise even thoughit’s rare. The ACAI, BCA, LABC, and the professionalbodies (RICS, CIOB, and CABE) all support arbitrationand mediation.

9. Complaints procedureFinally, building control bodies must have an easy-to-find and user-friendly complaints process, includingonward access to industry mediation. Any complaintsmade should be recorded and resolved pro-actively.

The ACAI fully supports the BCPSAG standards in ourcontinued push toward higher service delivery, andwould urge potential customers to utilise thosestandards in their projects. In this way, wider industrycan be assured that the building control professiondelivers the best possible services. ■

Useful links

https://www.gov.uk/search?q=BCPSAG

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/planning/buildingregs/bracw/building-con-

trol-performance-standards-advisory-group/?lang=en

http://www.buildingcontrolalliance.org/

http://www.labc.uk.com/

http://approvedinspectors.org.uk/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul WilkinsChief Executive at Butler and Young Group Chairman at Association of Consultant ApprovedInspectors (ACAI)Chair of the Building Control Alliance (BCA)[email protected]

38 | Building Control

Our aim is to ensure that our UK customersbenefit from over 40 years of knowledge andexperience in the construction sector. Since

1970 we have remained true to our customers – helpingthem to survive 4 recessions. In the good times we arealso there to help businesses grow. We will always focuson the needs of our customers and treating them fairly.

JCB Finance’s nationwide field force is able to offer alocal service in tune with local conditions.* Our aim isto help you preserve your vital working capital whilstspreading the cost of machinery acquisition in the mostcost effective and tax efficient manner. After all – youwouldn’t pay your staff three years wages in advance sowhy do the same for your plant – paying cash won’t makeit work any harder on day one. In 2012 we financed 52%of all JCB machines sold in the UK.

We offer the full suite of asset finance options fromHire Purchase through to Leasing. Some of these haveunique features and benefits to suit the constructionindustry. Our finance options are not restricted to JCBequipment but are also available for other new non-competitive machinery and all used machinery pluscars, 4x4’s, commercial vehicles, access equipmentand a whole lot more.

JCB Finance Key Stats:

• Total lending 1970-2012 – just over £8.0 billion

• Total lending in downturn (2008-2012) – c. £2.75billion plus 4,604 new customers

• Many reports show that SME’s have found it hard toaccess traditional sources of lending but in 2012 ourlending grew by 31.7% with total turnover of £748million

• In 2012 a total of 22,236 assets across 16,654 agree-ments were financed

• In 1993 we entered the Local Authority market lendingc. £270m to date – current balances with 158 differentLocal Authorities

• Asset mix – JCB 62% and Others 38%

• In 2012 JCB Finance provided 21.3% (some monthstouching 40%) of all HP and Lease finance in the UKconstruction machinery market (according to Financeand Leasing Association asset finance statistics).

* JCB Finance Ltd is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.JCB Finance only provides asset finance facilities to businesses in the UK.

Fast Flexible Finance

CDM2015: The art of selective interpretationAlthough reservations remain about the HSE’s proposals for CDM2015, it looks likethe role of Principal Designer is here to stay. James Ritchie of The Association forProject Safety outlines what steps industry should now take…

At the Health and Safety Executive Boardmeeting on 13th August, the HSE ConstructionDivision presented their Report on the

Outcome of the Consultation Document – theirtake on the industry’s response to the consultationdocument. Some people might say that formercabinet secretary Robert Armstrong would havebeen proud of the way the report was written, but their analysis was not unexpected given howcarefully worded were the consultation questions.

CDM co-ordinators can however feel justifiably hurtby the somewhat disingenuous comment that all oftheir responses should be viewed as a ‘Campaign’and that therefore the HSE Board should view thepercentage of positive or negative responses accord-ingly. Had the Association for Project Safety actuallyrun a campaign advising their members to respondin a particular manner, the HSE’s comments wouldhave been understandable. Of course, if all of theCDM co-ordinators’ responses had been in favourof the HSE’s proposals, one wonders if such a ‘Campaign’ suggestion would have been made.

Having seen most of the construction and healthand safety institutes’ responses it would appear thatAPS were not alone in their reservations about theHSE’s proposals for CDM2015. Both IIRSM and IOSHwere dismissive of many aspects of the proposedregulations, and consultation respondents foundpotential legal problems with the draft statutoryinstrument, all which will have to be sorted outquickly if they wish to bring the regulations intoforce in April 2015.

Whilst the HSE have bowed to industry demands foran Approved Code of Practice to run alongside theindustry prepared guidance, the one thing the HSEstill have not addressed properly is the cost ofthese changes to construction in terms of re-trainingand the issues surrounding a potential drop in construction health and safety standards whilst theindustry gets used to the new regime.

The removal of the CDM co-ordinator role was alwaysgoing to happen, even if the industry had votedsubstantially against it. It has been the failure of theHSE since 2007 to enforce the early appointment ofCDM co-ordinators and subsequently, the failure ofindustry to ensure the integration of the CDM-C intothe project team that has led to the HSE’s proposalsfor CDM2015. Removal of the CDM-C role shouldbe no problem to construction health and safetyprovided that those people appointed as PrincipalDesigners have the skills, knowledge and experienceto coordinate pre-construction health and safetyadequately, and understand exactly what they aresupposed to do. To this end, the design institutesneed to come together and agree exactly what skillset Principal Designers need to discharge theirduties effectively and then work hard to ensuretheir memberships are suitably skilled.

For all but the simplest of projects, those taking onthe role of Principal Designer or Principal Contractorwill want to make sure they have access to goodconstruction health and safety advice, and theindustry needs to determine what they are lookingfor in terms of construction health and safety risk



management consultants i.e. someone who is professionally qualified to Chartered level in a relevantconstruction related institution, has validated CPDin this field, and a typical additional qualification –for example the NEBOSH Construction Certificate,member of the health and safety register administeredby the ICE, membership of the Association for ProjectSafety, membership of the Institution of ConstructionSafety and of course, most important of all, evidenceof significant work on similar projects with comparablehazards, complexity and procurement route.

“Removal of the CDM-C role should beno problem to construction health andsafety provided that those peopleappointed as Principal Designers havethe skills, knowledge and experience tocoordinate pre-construction health andsafety adequately, and understand exactlywhat they are supposed to do.”

This is an approach that many of the constructionindustry’s leading commercial clients are now advo-cating through the use of experienced, knowledgeableCDMCs as construction health and safety consultantshaving discovered the tangible benefits they bring totheir projects for remarkably modest costs – and it isnot only the clients that have been benefitting fromthis service but also the designers and contractors.So, if clients are wanting to employ advisers withdemonstrable skills, knowledge and experience indesign, construction and health and safety, andmany designers are apprehensive of taking on healthand safety responsibilities being suggested in theHSE’s proposed Principal Designer role, then theanswer is surely for project teams to equip themselveswith a competent and capable CDM consultant, witha capability proportionate to the complexity of theproject involved. The top end professional clients inour industry know exactly why they employ capablepeople to advise them on health and safety – it isgood for business – and that looks set to continueirrespective of the Principal Designer.

The HSE’s CDM2015 proposals provide an opportunityfor the construction industry to reduce bureaucracy,streamline the pre-qualification process throughgreater use of SSIP and PAS9, and try to introduce

construction health and safety in a proportionatemanner to those smaller projects where the majorityof accidents are occurring. For the very smallestprojects, probably in the domestic market, healthand safety coordination should be simple enoughfor the lead designer to manage without the needfor a CDM consultant, but it will need a concentratedeffort by both the HSE, based around un-announcedinspections of smaller sites, and greater education ofboth designers and contractors by their professionalbodies if the change is to be successful. The ‘elephantin the room’ will be whether or not the HSE havethe resources, ability and stomach to enforce theirproposed new CDM Regulations during the pre-construction phase, or will they again justignore it and concentrate on the soft target optionof prosecuting contractors for failings on site.

We can only hope that, whatever the outcome, theconstruction industry, especially the SME sector,takes a sensible, pragmatic and proportionateapproach to health and safety and that clients,designers and contractors all realise their limitationsand understand when they need to employ a specialist CDM consultant to advise and assist them.We also need to hope that the industry writtenguidance to the new CDM Regulations is clear andeffective, especially as the Approved Code of Practice will not appear until well after the CDM2015regulations come into force. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Ritchie BA BArch RIBA RMaPSHead of External Affairs and Deputy Chief ExecutiveThe Association for Project SafetyTel: 0845 [email protected]

IMPROVE YOURDESIGN RISKMANAGEMENT

Industry recognised advice, guidance & training

FIND OUT MORE ATwww.aps.org.uk


The business of fire safety partnershipsGraham Ellicott, CEO of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) sheds light onhow businesses can now access Primary Authority Schemes for fire…

In 2009 RAFKAP Schemes were launched by theBritish Retail Consortium and the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA). RAFKAP stands for

Retail and Fire Key Authority Partnerships and theseschemes were designed to deliver consistency infire inspection and enforcement, enabling fire andrescue services to target resources on high-riskbusinesses. These schemes were an early forerunnerof Primary Authority Schemes.

Lead Fire Authority Schemes have also existed forsome time, for example in 2012 Derbyshire Fire andRescue (DFRS) entered into such a scheme withSouth Yorkshire Housing Association (SYA). In thisscheme DFRS provided a Liaison Officer from withinthe Fire Protection Department who acted as asingle point of contact for both parties. Plus, DFRSoffered advice to SYHA in relation to all new buildprojects and were available for consultation forprojects that fell outside of the Derbyshire area.

Looking further back in 2005 the then LabourGovernment commissioned a report from Sir PhillipHampton entitled ‘Reducing Administrative Burdens:Effective Inspection and Enforcement’. This reportthen became known as ‘The Hampton Report’ and itlooked at the impact that regulators were having onthe ability of business to compete and contribute tothe recovery of the economy. The report concludedthat across the regulatory gamut there were anumber of factors that impacted on a business,such as inconsistent advice, excessive enforcementand inspection. The Hampton Report published anumber of recommendations and all of these wereaccepted by the Government.

Following on from the Hampton Report, the Government, via The Regulatory Enforcement andSanctions Act introduced the Primary AuthorityScheme (PAS). PAS was developed as a partnershipscheme based in law with statutory guidelines.

These were designed to create business investmentin growth by developing confidence that regulatorsin different local authority areas would not placecompeting demands on a business which in turncould impose extra financial burdens on it. PASincludes a variety of ‘strands’ including:

Assured Advice which would be provided by •the regulator to a business and this would be accepted by enforcers of the same regulations;

Inspection Plans would be agreed between the•regulator and business so as to co-ordinate inspection activity under an agreed local inspectionprogramme that was risk based;

Enforcement Referral whereby the partner regulator•has the ability to stop proposed Enforcement Actionthat is not consistent with the Assured Advice.

PAS was to be available to any business that operatedacross more than one local authority area, and itwas to be applied to the majority of local authorityregulatory services including the Fire Safety Order.

However CFOA opposed PAS for the Fire SafetyOrder and argued that its implementation would becontrary to the implementation of local IntegratedRisk Management Plans. Thus, the Fire Safety Orderwas not included at this time in PAS.

In 2012, via the Enterprise and Regulatory ReformBill, the Government proposed a number of changesto PAS which included it being available to tradeassociations and franchises. In order to see if the ‘new’PAS was suitable for fire safety law, two six-monthpilot schemes were run from January 2013. These were:

A Statutory Scheme managed by the Better •Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) of The Depart-ment for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS);

A non-Statutory Fire Authority Partnership Scheme•managed by CFOA.

These pilots were independently evaluated and it wasdecided that the Statutory Scheme was the mostappropriate option.

In April 2014, PAS was finally extended to the FireSafety Order and to date there are 91 partnershipslisted with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Serviceand London Fire Brigade, being responsible forapproximately two thirds of them.

The FIA welcomes the extension of PAS to the FireSafety Order as the provision of consistent assuredadvice is a step forward for all concerned. However,the trade does have one area of concern and that iswhere the Fire and Rescue Service involved in a Part-nership has an arms-length company that providesfire related services to the other party. This couldlead to the accusation of conflict of interest whenenforcement issues are concerned, plus, there willalways be the suspicion that the work was obtainedbecause the business partner feels that it willmake life easier in general for itself if it uses thearms-length company. ■

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graham EllicottChief Executive OfficerFire Industry Association (FIA)Tel: +44 (0)203 166 [email protected]


Don’t gamble with yourfire risk assessment!...

Promoting Quality in Fire Safety

www.bafe.org.ukBridges 2, Fire Service College, London Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 0RH

Tel: 0844 3350897 • Email: [email protected]

If you are responsible for a businesspremises, the law requires that youhave a fire risk assessment. To find competent providers, you need BAFE.

Under the provisions of the Regulatory Reform (FireSafety) Order 2005, the Duty Holder or ResponsiblePerson for a building is required to make a Fire Riskassessment to clarify the fire precautions necessary toensure the safety of staff, customers and property.

At present there are no adequate means to ensure the competenceand reliability of a company commissioned to carry this out.

BAFE scheme SP205 has been developedspecifically to address this situation, andwill provide reassurance to theResponsible Person that they are doingeverything possible to meet theirobligations.

So don’t leave everything to chance.Make sure that your suppliers areregistered with BAFE.

Energy saving insulationThe Energy Saving Trust examine solid wall insulation and what opportunitiesit has for UK homes along with what households should consider…

It goes without saying that more expensive measures will provide the greatest savings andwarmest homes. Unsurprisingly, millions of

households have installed cavity wall installationwhich offers a very good energy saving payback,while practically every home in the UK now hassome form of loft insulation installed.

This is good news for the UK but there are still millionsof homes with solid walls that could still benefit fromwall insulation. Only three per cent of solid wall prop-erties have solid wall insulation, despite solid wallsletting through twice as much heat as cavity walls do.There is an opportunity here to dramatically improvethe UK’s housing stock through solid wall insulationeither on the inside (internal wall insulation) or outside(external wall insulation) of properties.

With many homes that could still benefit, but limitedgovernment funds to support solid wall insulation,there is a need to target those homes that couldbenefit the most. Finding these households most inneed is not always simple. Luckily more and moredata is available about the UK’s housing stock, suchas the Energy Saving Trust’s Home Analytics, whichcan be used to focus insulation activity on the coldestand most expensive to heat homes, along with themost vulnerable households, to make the most ofany government support on offer.

The energy savings associated with solid wall insulationis high – around £270 a year in the average three-bedsemi-detached home or even £460 a year in adetached home, with carbon savings between 1,000and 2,000 kg. However, the up-front costs are highand vary significantly depending on the level of work

required in the home. External wall insulationcould cost anywhere between £9,000 and £26,000while internal wall insulation is between £4,000 and £16,000. Another barrier is the hassle associatedwith the works, with households not wanting thedisruption to the home that comes with solid wallinsulation.

Luckily, there are ways to remove these barriers. Ifhouseholds are looking for cheaper rates, fitting theinsulation work in line with other home improvementswill save money on the job and spread the cost ofthe insulation, while also removing the hassle anddisruption barriers. For example, if households areplanning a new kitchen or bathroom, then it mightbe a great time to also explore internal wall insulation.

Households are three times as likely to considerenergy efficiency upgrades alongside other homeimprovements, works and renovation projects,while 85 per cent of UK households would stretchtheir budget on home improvements to pay forenergy efficiency measures and upgrades. Thisshould be seen as an opportunity for installers whocould sell energy efficiency measures alongsidewider home retrofits.

Another important consideration with solid wallinsulation is making sure it complies with BuildingRegulations. Normally the installer will ensure that the insulation is up to standard and willarrange approval from the local Building ControlOffice. However, if they are not going to do this, then the Building Control Office should becontacted at an early stage to make sure the proposed works comply.

46 | Energy Efficiency

| 47Energy Efficiency

For solid wall insulation the homeowner will need toemploy a professional installer, with external wallinsulation required to be fitted by a specialist installertrained by an approved system designer. Homeownerscan search for companies that specialise in solid wallinsulation through the National Insulation Association(NIA) and Insulated Render & Cladding Association(INCA) websites. If the internal wall insulation workscoincides with other building work then the home-owner might want to ask the same builder to do theinsulation, but it’s important to check that they haveexperience in fitting internal insulation. ■

For more information about solid wall insulation visit

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Insulation/Solid-wall-insulation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Energy Saving Trustwww.energysavingtrust.org.ukwww.twitter.com/EnergySvgTrust

“The energy savings associated withsolid wall insulation is high – around£270 a year in the average three-bedsemi-detached home or even £460 a yearin a detached home, with carbon savingsbetween 1,000 and 2,000 kg.”

Rising damp: rising allergiesRichard Sharpe, PhD Researcher at the University of Exeter Medical Schooladdresses the concerning rise of allergies caused by damp…

The modern energy efficiency mantra dictatesthat we build new homes to increasingly strin-gent regulations and retrofit old housing stock

to match. We insulate our houses with new materialsand seal every last crack. With undeniable benefitsfor heating bills and CO2 emissions, what about theimpact on the indoor environment?

Internal housing conditions provide an importantcontribution to good health and wellbeing, and thestate of our indoor environments is influenced by anumber of factors. Heating, insulation, ventilationand people’s behaviours, along with the type, orientation and geographic location of a property,all work to affect indoor air quality.

Over recent years we’ve witnessed a rise in allergicdiseases that can’t be explained by factors such asgenetic changes alone. With one in three peoplesuffering from allergies in industrialised countries,there has been an increasing focus on indoor airquality to explain this rise - and a robust body ofevidence now suggests that rates of allergic andrespiratory disease are linked to poor indoor housing conditions.

Based at the University of Exeter Medical School’sEuropean Centre for Environment & Human Health,we’ve just published findings that show damp andspecific types of mould can pose a significant healthrisk to people with asthma.



We critically reviewed the findings from 17 studiesin eight different countries and found that thepresence of several types of mould – among themAspergillus and the antibiotic-producing Penicillium –can lead to breathing problems in asthma sufferers,worsening their symptoms significantly. It also looksas though mould may actually help to trigger thedevelopment of asthma – but research in this area isstill in its infancy.

With over 10 varieties found in a typical home, mostpeople may not be aware that moulds are absolutelyabundant in our outdoor and indoor environments.If you have a house or flat that suffers from damp,you’re more likely to have more mould.

So what about the causes of damp? The structuralintegrity and architectural design of a (typically old)building can often lead to water making its wayinside. A lack of ventilation and heating can thenincrease the indoor humidity, with this moistureultimately condensing on cold surfaces and promoting the growth of mould.

Increased household energy efficiency can lead to anumber of health benefits and help make a propertymore affordable to heat. However, efforts to preventheat loss by reducing ventilation have led to undesiredconsequences for indoor air quality – increasingindoor dampness and the risk of fungal contamination,which currently affects around 16% of Europeandwellings.

The extent to which a home is heated and ventilatedis also largely controlled by the habits of its occupants,and the way people live in their homes varies hugely.For example, some people dry their washing onindoor racks, some shower with the window closed,and many keep their windows and doors closed asmuch as possible in winter. All of these behaviourscan increase the humidity and dampness in a home,with poorer families in particular less likely tomaintain adequate ventilation through the wintermonths – often failing to heat the whole building.

Crucially, we know little about how these behaviouralfactors contribute to damp and mould in homes thathave been retrofitted to make them more energyefficient – an increasingly important issue as hugeswathes of old housing stock is revamped.

Our research has highlighted the need for housingproviders, residents and healthcare professionals towork together to assess the impact of changes inhousing quality and occupant behaviour, and we’reworking closely with two Cornish companies to tryand find some answers.

In collaboration with social housing provider Coast-line Housing, we’re aiming to understand how newbuilding practices, intended to reduce energy useand fuel poverty – such as improved insulation andenergy efficiency – can affect occupant health.

Collecting data through questionnaires with resi-dents and the detailed sampling of homes, we’re

hoping to shed light on the complex mix of factorsthat affect indoor dampness, and communicate bestpractice to reduce the presence of mould. Thisaward winning enterprise-research partnership isat the cutting edge of built environment researchand has been expanded to include the innovativetechnology of a second Cornish company, CarnegoSystems.

Carnego are helping the team by using their digitalmonitoring tools to collect real time data (such astemperature and humidity) on the indoor environment.As we attempt to broaden the study’s applicationsfurther, we’re also working with several other partnersincluding Community Energy Plus and the Met Office– who will be providing historical weather data todetermine how external weather can affect indoorair conditions.

There’s no doubt that energy efficient homes havebeen an incredibly positive step in the evolution ofthe country’s housing stock. But the implications fordampness, mould, house dust mites and allergicconditions have been overlooked. We’re ultimatelyhoping that our findings will go on to inform housingpolicies and health intervention work aimed atreducing the costs associated with maintaining the

built environment, as well as the health and wellbeingof residents throughout the UK. ■

You can read more on this research by following the links below:

www.ecehh.org/research-projects/health-and-housing/

www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cea.12281/abstract

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009167491400952X

This research has been supported by the European Regional Devel-

opment Fund Programme 2007 to 2013 and European Social Fund

Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard SharpePhD ResearcherEuropean Centre for Environment & Human HealthUniversity of Exeter Medical SchoolTel: +44 (0)1872 [email protected]



Supafil Party Wall


Supafil 34


Block 100mm (min)


mounted on dabs

NO PARGE COAT

• E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil party wall blown wool Robust Detail solution

• Contributes to a zero effective U-value when compiling SAP calculations

• Efficient and quick installation by approved technicians

• Dry installation process




Masonry, Light weight aggregate block work, min. 100mm cavity

For full information on E-WM-28 visit Robust Details website http://www.robustdetails.com/TheHandbook/RobustDetail/E-WM-28

QUICK SUSTAINABLECLEAN COST EFFECTIVE

ROBUST DETAIL E-WM-28™

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/pb0914

Download a QR reader for free from your App Store and then scan the QR for more information.

The

all WWall ty ParThe

Blown Fill Full

SolutionBlown

The


all WWall ty ParThe


Blown Fill Full

AIL ET TAILE-WM-28™


SolutionBlown

y 50mm (min) Masonrcavity filled with

Supafil 34

Block 100mm (min)

• E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil parwall blown wool Robust Detail solution

• Contributes to a zero efwhen compiling SAP calculations

, L y, Masonr

E-WM-28™

E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil parwall blown wool Robust Detail solution

fective U-value Contributes to a zero efwhen compiling SAP calculations


E-WM-28™

ty E-WM-28 is the first unique Supafil parwall blown wool Robust Detail solution

fective U-value when compiling SAP calculations


E-WM-28™

Gypsum based boards

• ficient and quick installation by Efapproved technicians

• y installation processDr




ficient and quick installation by approved technicians

y installation process

No product storage on site

No parge coat required

Fully fills the cavity

ficient and quick installation by

100mm (min) Par


mounted on dabs

TARGE COA ATNO P PARGE COA

ty wall cavity filled with 100mm (min) Par

allty W WallSupafil Par

For full information on E-WM-28 visit Robust Details website www//http:

For full information on E-WM-28 visit Robust Details website andbook/RobuseHtdetails.com/Th.robuswww

obust k/Robu

QUICK

echnica TTechnical Suppor

TEL: 01744 766 666

AINABLESUSTCLEAN

eamt T Teamechnical Suppor

TEL: 01744 766 666

AINABLE

k

KINE2431ADV

[email protected]

k fi

-V0814VV-V0814

knaufi l [email protected]

k/ bk/pb0914

When it comes to installing any formof insulation, the performancecharacteristics of a product must

always be considered. Indeed, whenapproaching a masonry cavity wall application,the fire and thermal performance of theinsulation, in addition to the prevention ofwater penetration are vital issues that mustbe addressed – the selection of appropriatematerials and jointing methods for the outerleaf are therefore crucial.

Alongside these factors, another key consid-eration can be cost. Fundamentally, house-builders and developers require highperforming products that can save themtime and money. With this in mind, there isa solution that ticks every box. The recom-mended masonry cavity wall solution is full-fill mineral wool insulation, either injected(such as Supafil) or built in slabs (such asEarthwool DriTherm Cavity Slabs).

These systems not only provide U-values thatcomply with Building Regulations, but theyare also the lowest in cost. Even with denseconcrete blocks it is possible to achieve veryhigh thermal performance in a manageablewall width; and a full-fill solution is suitablefor all types of buildings.

Full-fill solutions are the most commonlyused in the market with approximately 55%of new build cavity walls incorporating them,and 85% of all residential cavity walls whenincluding refurbishment.1

Housebuilders using full-fill solutions willmake significant savings, whilst still achievingthe thermal performance required to meetcompliance with Building Regulations. In fact,compared to partial fill solutions, specifiers

can save up to 50 per cent of the cost, whichcan equate to up to £535 per plot – a sub-stantial cost saving for housebuilders whenthey are building multiple plots.

Meanwhile, mineral wool insulation productsare non-combustible and classified as Euro-class A1 to BS EN ISO 13501-1 – the highestpossible “Reaction to Fire” classification –compared to a D or E typically achieved byfoam plastic insulation materials.

Furthermore, there is a common misconceptionthat water can bridge the cavity and a full-fillsolution cannot be used in severe exposurezones. In reality, there are mineral wool insu-lation products available on the market thatcontain a water-repellent silicone additive toensure that no liquid water is able to passthrough and reach the inner leaf of masonry.Specifiers should only choose those productsthat are BBA certified for all exposure zones

– even when a site is being insured by theNHBC 2.

Undeniably, a full-fill mineral wool insulationto cavity walls offers the most practical, highperforming and cost effective solution. Thisall helps in contributing to keeping propertieswarmer and for the homeowner, savingmoney on their energy bills in the long run.

For more information please visitwww.knaufinsulation.co.uk

1 Building Insulation Market,Construction Markets 2011

2 Consult NHBC Standards for guidance regarding wall constructionin each exposure zone

52 PROFILE


SupaÞl Party Wall


SupaÞl 34


Block 100mm (min)


mounted on dabs

NO PARGE COAT

Full Fill for the perfect fit How fully filling with a mineral wool insulation can be themost practical and cost effective solution


Designing out the performance gapThe Zero Carbon Hub has recently recommended priority actions for theindustry to close the ‘performance gap’. Here, Nick Ralph from MIMAwelcomes the report and draws upon some of MIMA’s own work to illustrateits importance…

In its July 2014 report ‘Closing the gap betweendesign and as-built performance’ the Zero CarbonHub highlighted a number of key issues facing the

industry if we are to tackle the performance gap –but two areas in particular are close to MIMA’s heart.

The report highlighted concerns regarding theappropriateness of standard test methods for manufacturer performance declarations surroundingthermal conductivity, heat recovery and efficiencyetc. This is because products and materials aregenerally tested in isolation, not in-situ on site.Whilst testing materials in isolation provides a logicaland level comparison between products, it does notallow for issues such as air movement within a wall

element, or build tolerances when different productsare fixed together. The Zero Carbon Hub thereforequestioned the validity when results are used as aninput into energy modelling tools such as SAP andthen related to as-built performance.

Real performance testing is an area MIMA has beenheavily involved in over recent years, particularly inrelation to researching the effects of the party wallbypass. Previously, there was an assumption thatcavity party walls were an area of thermal equilibriumbetween two heated spaces and not a source ofheat loss. However, studies by the Buildings andSustainability Group of the School of the BuiltEnvironment at Leeds Metropolitan University (LMU)

between 2005 and 2007 showed that, for example,in a mid-terrace dwelling the heat lost throughuntreated party cavity walls could be greater thanthat which is lost through all of the other externalelements combined.

A series of field trials were conducted on the partywall cavities of terraced and semi-detached masonryhouses. The research combined a number ofmethodologies to achieve robust results:

Coheating tests were undertaken of dwellings•either side of the party wall both heated to thesame temperature. Internal measurements included mean internal temperature, humidityand energy consumption;

Airtightness pressure tests were taken at the start•and end of the coheating test period, includingthe identification of air leakage pathways;

Heat flow into the party cavity wall was •measured directly using heat flux sensors attached to the surface of the internal faces ofthe party wall;

A local weather station was attached to the test•dwellings, to measure external temperature, external humidity, wind speed, wind directionand solar insolation;

Air temperatures were taken inside the party•wall cavity;

Observations and measurements of the dwellings•as constructed were recorded, to includeborescope investigations of cavities and junctions;

Infra-red thermal images were taken from both•inside and outside the dwelling and under arange of external conditions.

The test results were two-fold. Firstly they provedthat the magnitude of the party cavity wall thermalbypass was equivalent to the party wall having aneffective U-Value of the order 0.5 to 0.7 W/m2K. As a result, there was an inclusion in the amended

Domestic Building Regulations in 2010 (Part L1A)that party walls would need to be fully filled withsuitable insulation and effectively sealed at theedges in order to achieve an effective zero-value.

The tests also demonstrated that full-fill mineralwool insulation is particularly suited to meeting theregulations, as together with effective edge sealing,it has been proven to comply with the requirementsfor a zero U-value without compromising acousticperformance.

MIMA welcomes the Zero Carbon Hub’s recommen-dation for a range of approaches to diagnostic testingthat can be consistently carried out at scale andavailable for a reasonable cost – and the call for

Examples of party wall insulation



significant investment in R&D from government,developers, manufacturers, and research programmes.

“Real performance testing is an areaMIMA has been heavily involved inover recent years, particularly in relationto researching the effects of the partywall bypass.”

The importance of good workmanship was alsohighlighted. Ultimately, manufacturers’ productsare only as good as the installation – and skills andknowledge training is also a priority action recommended in the report, with an emphasis onhow crucial it is that installation instructions are adhered to.

The recent changes to the new Part L regulations gosome way to tackling this. Tougher rules looking atthermal bridging and air permeability are widelyexpected to lead to better quality workmanship onbuilding sites - with leakage allowances down to

five cubic meters per square metre per hour – andpenalties being applied to any dwelling not physicallytested. This drive towards real performance, whichMIMA is very active in, is going to be a clear way ofidentifying shortfalls in building materials and techniques.

Product choice also has a role to play. For example,the research undertaken by LMU into the thermalperformance of party walls also required the performance of the external elements of the buildingenvelope to be measured. During this aspect of theinvestigation, the full-fill mineral wool insulation slabsinstalled in the external wall cavities were shown toprovide robust in-use performance. In particular,the close fit provided by mineral wool at insulationjoints and at building interfaces played an importantpart in ensuring there wasn’t an appreciable ‘performance gap’. Quite simply, good performancedemands good fit, and using materials that areeasy to fit without gaps proved to be an importantdesign step.

MIMA has long championed the use of BuildingRegulations to drive change in building practices,to improve delivered thermal performance andmeasure real, in-situ performance. The Zero CarbonHub’s latest report and the recent changes to Part Lare therefore seen as greatly encouraging and willhopefully bring the industry another step closer toclosing the performance gap.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick RalphMineral Wool Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (MIMA)Tel: 020 7935 [email protected]

Nick RalphMineral Wool Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (MIMA)

56 PROFILE

Since the revision to Approved Docu-ment L in 2010, party walls have athermal as well as acoustic purpose.

Tom Foster, senior product manager at Saint-Gobain Isover, discusses the importance ofmeeting thermal bypass requirements withoutjeopardising the original purpose of theparty wall – acoustics.

IntroductionOver the past ten years, the constructionindustry’s focus for party walls has been onimproving acoustic performance, cost ofinstallation and ease of compliance. However,since the revision of Approved Document Lin 2010, focus has switched towards meetingthermal regulatory requirements by removingthermal bypass from the party wall. Despitethis added complexity, it is important for theindustry to remain focused on achieving goodall-round performance, including acoustics.

Meeting regulatoryrequirementsFor anyone building to 2010 or 2013 thermalregulations, serious penalties will beincurred in the SAP calculation tool if partywall thermal bypass is not addressed. Thepenalty is a default U-value of 0.5 W/m²k forthe party wall unless measures are taken toaddress the issue. This can be achieved intwo ways: effectively edge sealing the cavity;and/or restricting air movement by filling thecavity with mineral wool. If both measuresare taken, a zero U-value can be assigned tothe wall in the SAP calculation tool.

The full-fill mineral wool insulation used torestrict thermal bypass also plays a big partin the acoustic performance of the wall.

Whereas the thermal requirement for theproduct is generic and non-brand specific,often the acoustic requirement is much moreprecise and moving away from the productor brand specification could negativelyimpact the acoustic performance of the wall.

When applying measures to address thermalbypass, care must be taken not to create adetrimental effect on the acoustic perform-ance of the wall. The easiest and often mostfinancially viable way to ensure compliancewith acoustic and thermal regulation isthrough the Robust Details scheme.

The solutionOver the past five years, Isover has gone togreat lengths to support the industry withrobust solutions for masonry party walls.Isover’s range of three proprietary RobustDetails; E-WM-17, E-WM-20 and E-WM-24all incorporate Isover RD Party Wall Roll, afull-fill mineral wool roll designed to meetthe requirement for a fully-filled cavity toeliminate thermal bypass, and to maintainhigh levels of acoustics. In addition, all threedetails remove the requirement for pre-com-pletion sound testing and a parge-coat priorto dry lining.

By registering and building to one of thesethree Robust Details, house builders canclaim a zero U-value party wall in their SAPcalculation whilst continuing to achieve highlevels of acoustic performance. Care should betaken to ensure the exact specification of theRobust Detail is followed, including insulation,wall ties, block type and plasterboard, toensure the designed acoustic performanceis achieved on-site.

Tom FosterSenior Product ManagerSaint-Gobain IsoverTel: 0115 969 [email protected]

Meeting thermal and acousticperformance in party walls

SummaryThe introduction of thermal requirements forparty walls in 2010 may have created morecomplexity for the industry, but by buildingto the specification laid out in Isover’s threeproprietary Robust Details, construction professionals can have peace of mind thatthey will meet the new thermal regulatoryrequirements and maintain the consistentlyhigh acoustic performance of party walls thathas been developed over the last decade.

The ‘Sound’ Choice for Party Walls

Isover RD Party Wall Roll is a proprietary component of V-WM-20 Scottish Robust Detail.

• Helps to deliver a zero U-value party wall

• Meets Section 5 (Noise) without PCT

• No requirement for render or parge-coat

Visit www.isover.co.uk for more information

www.adjacentgovernment.co.uk

Adjacent Planning and Building Control Todayprovides cutting edge policy analysis from expertscombined with insight and opinions from tradeassociations and other professionals.

We welcome contact from all experts with aninterest in making an editorial contribution.

[email protected]

The national planning andbuilding control publication

BAFE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45British Gypsum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 27, OBCClearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 35, 36JCB Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39KNAUF Insulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC, 51, 52Lloyd’s Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 21 Saint Gobain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11, 16, 17, 22, 23Saint Gobain Isover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 57 Stuart King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Tekla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 31The Association of Project Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Index

Building RegulationsScotland

The Technical Handbooks provide guidance on achieving the standards set inthe Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and are available in two volumes,Domestic buildings and Non-domestic buildings.

The 2013 Edition of the Technical Handbooks are now available to view ordownload. These handbooks provide revised guidance and support theBuilding (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 whichwere laid before Parliament on 13 May 2013. The amended regulations andtechnical guidance came into force on 1 October 2013. Through the sameamendment regulations, changes are also made to the Building (Procedure)(Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Building (Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

All handbooks can be found here:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/techbooks/techhandbooks

60 | Building Regulations

| 61Building Regulations

STRUCTURE:Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic: Structure

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/pubtech/th2013dom1

Technical Handbooks 2013 Non- Domestic: Structure

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/pubtech/th2013ndom1

The structure of a building is fundamental to ensuring the safety of people in or around new and existingbuildings and can be affected by a number of factors inside and outside the building including environmentalfactors. These factors should be considered to prevent the collapse, excessive deformation or thedisproportionate collapse of buildings.

To achieve a structure with adequate structural resistance, serviceability and durability the following should betaken into account:

a. the loadings (actions) on the building;

b. nature of the ground;

c. collapse or deformations;

d. stability of the building and other buildings;

e. climatic conditions;

f. materials;

g. structural analysis; and

h. details of construction.

FIRE: Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic: Fire


Technical Handbooks 2013 Non- Domestic: Fire


Life safety is the paramount objective of fire safety. Domestic buildings should be designed and constructed insuch a way that the risk of fire is reduced and, if a fire does occur, there are measures in place to restrict thegrowth of fire and smoke to enable the occupants to escape safely and fire-fighters to deal with fire safely and effectively.

The purpose of the guidance is to achieve the following objectives in the case of an outbreak of fire within the building:

• to protect life;

• to assist the fire and rescue services; and

• to further the achievement of sustainable development.

ENVIRONMENT:Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic: Environment


Technical Handbooks 2013 Non- Domestic: Environment


Water, air and soil are intricately linked and all can be affected by various forms of pollution that affect ourenvironment. Other issues such as condensation have been a constant threat to people and buildings for manyyears. The Scottish Government encourages the use of previously developed land (brownfield) and localauthorities may wish to promote brownfield land in preference to greenfield land. Some of this land will becontaminated and will need to be made safe.

The intention is to ensure that, as far as is reasonably practicable, buildings do not pose a threat to theenvironment and dwellings, and people in or around buildings, are not placed at risk as a result of:

a. site conditions;

b. hazardous and dangerous substances;

c. the effects of moisture in various forms;

d. an inadequate supply of air for human occupation of a building;

e. inadequate drainage from a building and from paved surfaces around a building;

f. inadequate and unsuitable sanitary facilities;

g. inadequate accommodation and facilities in a dwelling;

h. inadequately constructed and installed combustion appliances;

i. inadequately constructed and installed oil storage tanks;

j. inadequate facilities for the storage and removal of solid waste from a dwelling.

SAFETY:Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic: Safety


Technical Handbooks 2013 Non- Domestic: Safety


Safety has been defined by the International Standards Organisation as ‘a state of freedom from unacceptablerisks of personal harm’. This recognises that no activity is absolutely safe or free from risk. No building can beabsolutely safe and some risk of harm to users may exist in every building. Building standards seek to limit risk toan acceptable level by identifying hazards in and around buildings that can be addressed through the Building(Scotland) Regulations.


The intention is to give recommendations for the design of buildings that will ensure access and usability, reducethe risk of accident and unlawful entry. The standards within this section:

• ensure accessibility to and within buildings and that areas presenting risk through access are correctly guarded;

• reduce the incidence of slips, trips and falls, particularly for those users most at risk;

• ensure that electrical installations are safe in terms of the hazards likely to arise from defective installations,namely fire and loss of life or injury from electric shock or burns;

• prevent the creation of dangerous obstructions, ensure that glazing can be cleaned and operated safely and toreduce the risk of injury caused by collision with glazing;

• safely locate hot water and steam vent pipe outlets, and minimise the risk of explosion through malfunction ofunvented hot water storage systems prevent scalding by hot water from sanitary fittings;

• ensure the appropriate location and construction of storage tanks for liquefied petroleum gas; and

• ensure that windows and doors vulnerable to unlawful entry are designed and installed to deter house breaking.

NOISE:Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic: Noise


Technical Handbooks 2013 Non- Domestic: Noise

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/pubtech/th2013ndom

Noise is unwanted sound. In order to limit the effects of unwanted sound the standards intend to improve theresistance of building elements to sound transmission. Research has presented clear evidence that noise canindirectly contribute to a range of health issues such as stress and anxiety.

Inadequate sound insulation can impair health by allowing noise from other people to disrupt normal life. Anumber of people in attached homes complain of neighbour noise.

The 2010 edition of Section 5 has been completely rewritten to include:

• an increase in the sound insulation performance of separating walls and separating floors;

• a robust post-completion testing regime;

• guidance for carrying out work to existing buildings;

• guidance to reduce sound passing between rooms in dwellings; and

• section has been updated to reflect then updating of Planning Advice Notes.

Including residential buildings (Non-domestic):

• separating walls and separating floors forming rooms intended for sleeping (Non- domestic)



ENERGY:Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic – Energy


Technical Handbooks 2013 Non- Domestic – Energy


Within Scottish building regulations, improvements in energy standards have been made over many years,

culminating in 2007 with the move to a carbon dioxide emission based methodology for assessing carbon and

energy performance in new buildings.

In 2007, Scottish Ministers convened an expert panel to advise on the development of a low carbon building

standards strategy to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. This resulted in The Sullivan Report

– ‘A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland’. A key recommendation of this Report is staged

improvements in energy standards in 2010 and 2013, with the aim of net zero carbon buildings (emissions for

space heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation) in 2016/17, if practical.

Domestic: Section 6.0.3 addresses the carbon dioxide emissions and energy performance of all domestic

buildings (houses, flats and maisonettes) and ancillary buildings. In respect of dwellings, all parts of a building

intended to form part of the dwelling should be within an insulation envelope.

This section should be read in conjunction with all the guidance to the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 but

in particular Section 3 Environment has a close affiliation with energy efficiency, regarding:

a. heating of dwellings;

b. ventilation of domestic buildings;

c. condensation;

d. natural lighting;

e. combustion air and cooling air for combustion appliances;

f. drying facilities; and

g. storage of woody biomass.

Non- Domestic: This section covers the energy efficiency for non-domestic buildings. Such buildings include:

factories, offices, shops, warehousing, hotels, hospitals, hostels and also buildings used for assembly and

entertainment.

• ventilation

• condensation

• combustion appliances and

• biomass fuel storage.


SUSTAINABILITY:Technical Handbooks 2013 Domestic: Sustainability


Technical Handbooks 2013 Non-Domestic: Sustainability


Sustainable development has been defined as meeting “the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs” by the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations in

1983. It follows that the process of sustainable development and the quality of ‘sustainability’ to aspire to within

the built environment should account for:

• social, economic and environmental factors;

• the potential for long-term maintenance of human well-being in and around buildings;

• the well-being of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources, without destroying the

ecological balance of the area where these resources originate or are processed; and

• the ability for the built environment to be maintained.

The intention of this standard is to:

• recognise the level of sustainability already achieved by the building regulations. By setting the 2010 Standards

as the benchmark level, credit is given to meeting the standards within Sections 1- 6 of the building regulations.

This will emphasise that a degree of sustainable design and construction is not a niche market but must be

achieved in all new buildings;

• encourage more demanding sustainability standards through enhanced upper levels;

• encourage consistency between planning authorities that use supplementary guidance to promote higher

measures of sustainable construction in their geographical areas. By making reference to this standard, local

aspirations can be met by selection of clear national benchmarks. Levels of sustainability have been defined that

must include a low or zero carbon generating technology, with reference to Section 72 of the Climate Change

(Scotland) Act 2009.

british-gypsum.com

White Book System SelectorFind system solutions and BIM data quicklyRevit BIM files for all our system solutions can be downloaded from our online White Book System Selector. This tool works by using performance filters, such as fire integrity or acoustic insulation to search for the ideal solution to meet your project requirements.

It is vital that information contained within a building model is correct, as it will remain with the construction throughout its life; design, construction, operation and deconstruction. A key element to this approach is accurate system and product data, which is why we produce and validate this ourselves, ensuring a precise and reliable solution.

For more information, visit british-gypsum.com/wbssbim or call our Technical Advice Centre on 0844 800 1991.

Adjacent planning and building control digital book for scotland

News & Politics

Transcript of Adjacent planning and building control digital book for scotland